PirateQ 
MILTON – Pole tossing, axe throwing, cross-cut sawing, bluegrass music and more are scheduled for the 31st Annual Northwest Florida Forestry Conclave and Lumberjack Festival.
Set for 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 2, at Pensacola State College’s Milton Campus, 5988 U.S. 90, the free festival offers something for every age including children’s activities, delectable foods, collectible automobiles, nature and wildlife exhibits.
Lumberjack competitions for adults ─ ages 16 and older ─ will take place throughout the day and include compass and pacing, axe throwing, knife throwing, log rolling, cross-cut sawing, pulpwood tossing and other more.
Youth events for ages 12-15 will be held from 8-10:30 a.m. and include knife throwing, compass and pacing, and cross-cut sawing competitions.
Children 12 and younger can enjoy face painting, coloring, crafts and outdoor games from 8 a.m.-noon.
Ribbons will be given for the three highest scores in each event. First-place winners will receive an award. The top three male and female contestants with the highest-overall points will be named Grand Champion Lumberjacks 2019.
Registration for the Lumberjack and Forestry Conclave competitions will begin at 7:30 a.m. Competitions are set for 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Senior citizens, middle and high school students, and college students can compete for free. For other competitors, there is a $5 entry fee.
Admission is free to the festival. Canned goods and nonperishable food items are being accepted to help Northwest Florida residents in need.
More than 34 exhibitors will be on hand including PSC Active Minds Chapter, chainsaw artist Andy Cummings, Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site, Blackwater Heritage State Trail, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse, PSC Cosmetology Club – Milton Campus, Santa Rosa Master Gardeners, Flora-Bama Cutups Wood Carving Club, Blackwater River State Park, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Forest Service, Florida Trail Association, PSC Rotaract Club, Girl Scouts, Grandpa John’s Wood Crafts, Green-Up Nursery, H.O.P. Education (animal rescue), Historic Exhibit of Turpentining and Logging, Keep Santa Rosa Beautiful, KONA Ice, Panhandle Butterfly House, Project Learning Tree, Rayonier Elberta Nursery (seedling giveaway), American Red Cross – Optavia, Reformers Unanimous, Santa Rosa Adult School, Santa Rosa County Extension 4-H (children’s events), Six Rivers CISMA, EcoView Windows and Doors, Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections, Troy University, the University of Florida IFAS – Milton Campus, Yellow River Marsh Preserve, and Pensacola State College information booth.
Festival sponsors include Adventures Unlimited Outdoor Center, CPC Office Technologies, Mobile Attic, Grover T’s BBQ Restaurant (Mike Thomas), Milton Tastee Freeze, All Pro Tune Up, Andy Cummings, B & C Nursery, Badcock Furniture, Blackwater Heritage State Trail, Burger King, Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Dani’s Fiber Arts, David’s Catfish House, Eagle Tire, EcoView Windows and Doors, Eddie English Company-Home of Boat Trailer, Firehouse Subs – Milton, Flora-Bama Cutups, Florida Forest Service, Follett’s Bookstore, Girl Scouts, Grandpa John’s Wood Crafts, Green-Up Nursery, Gulf Coast Gun, Gulf Coast Blue Grass Music Association, Hall’s Hardware, Heidi Massey, Home Depot – Pace, Images Hair Design, Jack’s Tree Service, Keep Santa Rosa Beautiful, Kona Ice, La Hacienda – Milton, Lilla Rose, Debbie Bigelow-Jordan, Lowe’s Home Improvement – Pace, McDonalds on Caroline Street, Milton Quality Bakery, Milton Sandy Sansing Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Napa Auto Parts, Ollie’s Neighborhood Grill, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Pace Plumbing, Pittman Lumber, Project Learning Tree, Santa Rosa County Extension Office, Rayonier Elberta Nursery, Ridge Cinema 8, Robin Giacin, Santa Rosa County Extension 4-H, Santa Rosa County Federal Credit Union, Sonic – Milton, Taco Bell – Milton, Texas Roadhouse, Tops Appliances, Tires, Etc., Trident Aircraft, Trends Salon – Ashley Cruz, the University of Florida IFAS, West Florida Research and Education Center, Aces Restaurant, Advanced Auto Parts, Milton Arby’s, and Wilson Lumber Co.