Stevens County Conservation District
(509) 685-0937 ext 101
2016 BIG TREE CONTEST
Stevens County Conservation District (SCCD) and WSU Stevens County Extension
Big Tree Contest (BTC) is an educational event where youth care for a selected seedling for a
period of time. The tree is brought to the fair in a 5 gallon bucket accompanied by an educational
poster to be judged. The top tree from each participating youth community organization competes
to be one of ten auctioned off at the Biggest and Best Auction as a fundraiser for the organization.
To participate in the BTC
1.
Pick up application from SCCD or WSU Stevens County Extension
2.
Submit application to SCCD by February 12, 2016

Youth groups must purchase trees in bundles of 5 for $10.00: limit 50 trees

Individuals may purchase individual trees for $2.00 each: limit 5 trees
3.
SCCD will notify you of your eligibility status after reviewing application
4.
Pick up contest trees from SCCD (tentative)

March 5, 2016 at Sensational Saturday or

Make arrangement to pick up at SCCD office after March 5, 2016
5.
Pre-register the tree, educational poster, bucket, and optional cedar seedling with
the fair see Fair Premium Book for deadline.
6.
Deliver an educational poster to WSU by August 17, 2016 following Fair Premium
book guidelines
7.
Deliver tree in a 5 gallon bucket and/or WRC seedling to the fair Wednesday
August 24, 2016 between 8:00 am to 12:00 noon to the SCCD Big Tree Display
tent
8.
Biggest and Best Auction August 27, 2016 at 1:00 on fair grounds location TBD

9.
Auction trees will be identified Thursday morning August 25, 2016
Participants pick up trees, buckets and posters August 28, 2016 after 4:00 pm. It is
the organization’s responsibility to make arrangements with the buyer as to
disposition of the tree sold at auction.
Dates and times are subject to change. See fair premium book or SCCD will contact registered
organizations and individuals
Any youth can participate in the BTC and receive ribbons, fair premium money and awards for
the tree, bucket and educational poster as an individual. Only organizations are eligible for the
auction.
The contest requires that the tree be brought to the fair in a round 5 gallon bucket. Each tree is
to be entered in the fair by an individual not a club or group.
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Stevens County Conservation District
(509) 685-0937 ext 101
Definitions and Rules 2016 Big Tree Contest
Biggest and Best Auction – The top ten trees limit of one per youth group, are auctioned to
the public starting with the 1st place tree. -- The highest scoring tree in a blue or red ribbon
bucket from each qualified organization competes to be in the top 10. No white ribbon trees or
buckets will be auctioned off. The members of the organization must be present with the tree at
the auction and introduce themselves, giving a short presentation on how they plan to spend the
money raised.
Bucket – 5 gallon round by volume of previous contents or actual size. Most buckets are
marked on the bottom or label. Buckets exceeding 5-1/2 gallons in size will not be accepted into
the contest. Buckets less than 5 gallons will be accepted, but judging system will make them
white ribbon and not eligible for the auction. Contact SCCD for any questions or to verify size.
Fair – Northeast Washington Fair August 25-28, 2016, Stevens County Washington - physical
address: 317 W. Astor Colville WA 99114.
Judged – Group Method (Danish) is a method of evaluating entries in a particular class or
contest according to the standards developed for that class or contest. Tree, Bucket Decoration
and Poster will receive Blue, Red, White and participation ribbons. Champion and Reserve
Champion will be determined by score. Trees will be placed by score.
Pre-registered in the fair – BTC participants must be pre-registered in the Fair utilizing the
form and deadlines detailed in the 2016 premium book. Youth Exhibitor Information must be
filled out with club/chapter name, parent and leaders signature if part of the youth organization
to be eligible for the auction. Individual youth need parent signature and are not eligible for the
auction.
Seedling trees – Contest trees are provided by Society of American Foresters Panorama
Chapter. Only trees tagged and handed out by SCCD in the year of the contest are eligible.
Sensational Saturday – A Stevens County 4-H Leaders Council sponsored event held at the
Community College in Colville. A 45 minute presentation will be given on the rules of the
contest, basic principles of growing a tree, questions and answers and tree handout .Time will
be announced later. March 5, 2016 participants will be notified of time and room #.
Youth – Must be 5 years of age or enrolled in Kindergarten prior to January 1, 2016 through
those in 12th grade or who have not reached their 19th birthday before January 1, 2016.
Youth community organization – Are recognized youth community organizations with at least
3 youth members from at least 2 separate families with an educational and natural resource
involvement and defined by having a bank account. Past participating groups eligible include
4-H community clubs, Future Farmer of America chapters, Boy Scout troops.
BIG TREE CONTEST Decorated Bucket Judging Criteria
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Stevens County Conservation District
(509) 685-0937 ext 101
Maximum
points
35
SIZE/TREE
1.
2.
Bucket 5 gallon and round
Tree collar near top of bucket
NEATNESS/APPEARANCE
1.
2.
2.
20
10
10
Bucket captures attention & holds
interest
New idea or innovative way to present
familiar one
•
•
•
•
Comments
25
10
Name on bucket
Lettering easy to read
ORIGINALITY/CREATIVITY
1.
Points
45
25
20
91-100 BLUE, 76-90 RED, 75-0 WHITE
TOTAL SCORE
100
Bucket must be round 5 or 5-1/2 gallon in size. Contact SCCD if any questions. Buckets and pots
less than 5 gallons will receive zero points for size. Buckets exceeding 5-½ gallons will not be
accepted. No square buckets will be accepted
Tree collar near top of bucket. Presentation is important. Having the bucket as full as possible
and tree near the top makes the tree look bigger. 10 points available, it will be the judge’s
discretion on how to score. Buckets half full and the tree planted deep will receive zero points.
Deeply planted trees are harder to measure the diameter at the root collar for the tree judge.
Name of individual and youth community organization should be on bucket. If entry tag is lost
or ownership of bucket cannot be determined, bucket will not be judged.
Bucket judge may make adjustments to scoring card and has final say on any discrepancies.
Cash prizes will be awarded for the top 5 buckets. Grand and Reserve will be recognized at the auction.
If you have
any question
on bucket
size and
points have
SCCD
inspect and
approve
before
planting tree
Height x Width
15½” x 11½”
Marked on bottom
5 ½ gallon
Bucket 5 gallon round 25 points
15”x12”
5 gallon
25 points
13½”x12”
5 gallon
25 points
12½”x 11½”
4 gallon
0 points
BIG TREE CONTEST Poster Judging Criteria
Page 3 of 4
11”x11½”
3½ gallon
0 points
Stevens County Conservation District
(509) 685-0937 ext 101
EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
1.
2.
3.
4.
Maximum
points
40
One main idea
Topic is Forestry related
Poster shows evidence of research
Information is presented accurately
NEATNESS/APPEARANCE
45
5
25
10
5
15
1. Poster captures attention & holds
interest
2. New idea or innovative way to present
familiar one
TOTAL SCORE
•
•
•
•
Comments
5
25
5
5
1. Color pleasing to eye & effectively
used
2. Layout legible and well balanced on
22” X 28” poster board
3. Lettering easy to read
4. Illustrations part of message
ORIGINALITY/CREATIVITY
Points
10
5
100
90-100 BLUE, 75-89 RED, 74-0 WHITE
Name of individual, youth community organization and the current year must be on back of
poster.
Topic can be anything forestry related.
Poster must be checked in at WSU by August 17 – following Fair Premium Book guidelines.
Poster judge may make adjustments to scoring card and has final say on any discrepancies.
Cash prizes will be awarded for the top 5 posters. Grand and Reserve will be recognized at the auction.
BIG TREE CONTEST Tree Judging Criteria
The official tree judge will be an experienced forester with background in reforestation.
•
•
•
Height will be measured in inches from root collar to tree tip.
Diameter will be measured with a caliper in millimeters at root collar.
Needle color, a color palette to judge the "greenest" hue.
Tree health and general appearance will also be a factor in placing of trees.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the individuals entering the top 5 trees.
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