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The Cal Poly Humboldt logging sports team will host the 84th Annual Association of Western Forestry Clubs Conclave from March 13 to 16.

The event will be hosted in conjunction with the Redwood Regional Logging Conference and will take place at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds.

The event is free and open to the public. 

This is the first time in 10 years that Humboldt is hosting this event and close to 200 students from 10 universities across the west are expected to travel to the area to compete in events like climbing, birling and axe throwing, among others.

“I’ve gone to two conclaves, and it’s so fun to be at this event,” said Franziska Daumberger, a member of the Humboldt logging sports team. “You get fired up with your team and excited to support them. We’re stoked that we’ll be competing and showing off our skills and that we’re getting to represent Humboldt, the redwoods, and our forestry practices. It’s awesome.”

In addition to competing, members of the local logging sports team learns to use traditional and modern logging equipment and sustainable timber harvesting and management practices.

Since club president Zoey Cardoza, a Forestry student, and Daumburger, an Environmental Resources Engineering student, joined the team three years ago, it has grown from 20 participants to nearly 80, with more women joining the academic club. 

According to a press release, the majority of the club’s board members are women. 

“There’s usually just a handful of women in this sport, but on our team, most of the time, we have more women than men competing, which is not common on other teams,” Cardoza said. “I’m very proud to say I’ve seen a rise in women feeling more confident in the sport and coming out to compete.” 

For more information on the club and the upcoming conclave, email loggingsports@humboldt.edu.