Mike Sikora Award (Winning Team)

Michael Sikora, Jr. was one of the original founding members of the Invitational and was on the original Committee. Mike was an Extension Community Resource Development Specialist in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. He also worked for the Massachusetts Department of Natural Resources and as Senior Forester for National Grid Company. He was good friends with Joe Yeager which is why Massachusetts was in on the original development of the Invitational.

Mike Sikora was a bear of a man, who shared Joe Yeager's vision for building a great experience for youngsters interested in natural resources. He and Joe served as co-chairs of the event until Mike's work no longer allowed him to participate, but his influence was written all over the Invitational in its formation and continuing philosophy.

Mike worked tirelessly to get Massachusetts Extension excited about the Invitational and to routinely participate in it without much success. Support for his continuation on the Committee waned within his own state Extension administration. He eventually went off the committee in the late 1980’s.

The Mike Sikora Award recognizes the state team that scores the highest point total.

• 2015 - Tennessee
• 2014 - Alabama
• 2013 - Pennsylvania
• 2012 - Tennessee
• 2011 - Georgia
• 2010 - Louisiana
• 2009 - Alabama
• 2008 - Alabama
• 2007 - Illinois
• 2006 - Illinois
• 2005 - Alabama
• 2004 - Alabama
• 2003 - Alabama
• 2002 - Alabama
• 2001 - Alabama
• 2000 - Alabama
• 1999 - West Virginia
• 1998 - Alabama
• 1997 - Alabama
• 1996 - Alabama
• 1995 - Alabama
• 1994 - Florida
• 1993 - Tennessee
• 1992 - Alabama
• 1991 - Alabama
• 1990 - Georgia
• 1989 - Alabama
• 1988 - Tennessee
• 1987 - Alabama
• 1986 - Florida
• 1985 - Tennessee
• 1984 - Alabama
• 1983 - Florida
• 1982 - Louisiana
• 1981 - Virginia
• 1980 - Massachusetts

Will McElfresh Award (Individual High Scorer)

Will McElfresh was an original founding member of the Invitational and served the Invitational tirelessly for many years. Will was an Extension Forestry Specialist at Virginia Tech with an emphasis on 4-H and Youth programming. He was instrumental in developing the Tree Identification contest and was the curator of the original Invitational tree specimen collection that has evolved over the years. Will made the Tree ID portion outstanding and carried the kids into the top 1% in the nation in knowing how to identify trees. As an aside, Will was a walking encyclopedia on just about any topic one would care to discuss.

The Will McElfresh Award recognizes the Invitational competitor who scores the highest point total in the individual contest events.

• 2015 - Julia Palacios - TN
• 2014 - Lisa Barron - AL
  
• 2013 - Seth Junkin - AL
• 2012 - Michael Crenshaw - TN
• 2011 - Brittany Evans - GA
• 2010 - Megan Farmer - LA
• 2009 - Forrest Ford - AL
• 2008 - Steve Franklin - AL
• 2007 - Chris Francis - IL
• 2006 - Elizabeth Shiley - IL
• 2005 - Samuel Cordner - AL
• 2004 - Ben Gasser - AL
• 2003 - Holly Cordner - AL
• 2002 - Lisa Shaw - AL
• 2001 - (tie) Connor Lawrence - IL
  and Jimmy Williams - AL
• 2000 - Pebbles Fulford - FL
• 1999 - Michael Tilley - AR
• 1998 - (tie) Clinton Morris - WV
  and John Goff - AL
• 1997 - Jeremy Ramsey - AL
• 1996 - Justin Angel - IL
• 1995 - Jerry Hinnen - AL
• 1994 - Karen Stasncil - FL
• 1993 - James Russell - AR
• 1992 - Alec Mathis - GA
• 1991 - Kirk Miller - AL
• 1990 - Dennis Kuykendall - AR
• 1989 - Lee Cole - TN
• 1988 - Nancy Graybeal - TN
• 1987 - Carol Shaw - AL
• 1986 - Doug Dyer - LA
• 1985 - Tom White - TN
• 1984 - Tim Hughes - GA
• 1983 - Stuart Gauthier - LA
• 1982 - Emile Gardiner - LA
• 1981 - Blair Smith - VA
• 1980 - Sandra Foss - MA

Joe Yeager "Spirit of the Invitational" Leadership Award

Joe was a regional/district Extension forester in West Virginia for much of his career and his office was located at Jackson's Mill. He is regarded as the “Father of the Forestry Invitational” since he was instrumental in getting it created and operational. This contest was Joe's idea, which he presented in the mid-1970's to the national committee working on the 4-H Forestry Manuals and the National  4-H Council. Joe was active in soliciting forest industry and agency support for the Invitational. International Paper took on the sole sponsorship of the Invitational shortly after its inception.

Joe was a cornerstone of 4-H life at Jackson's Mill. His love of the 4-H campfire tradition made for memorable Invitational evenings filled with fun, fellowship, reverence and reflectance. Joe was the Invitational's 'host and ambassador' to all state teams competing in the Invitational. Joe Yeager had a rapport with teenagers like few others because he cared deeply about them.

Instead of allowing some late night discussions to center around making the Invitational more efficient and academically precise, Joe always forced the committee, gently, to look at the long range impact on the kids and consider that most of them wouldn't go into forestry. But, if they had a great experience and were honored, they might have an impact in their communities and the nation.

The Joe Yeager “Spirit of the Invitational” award recognizes an outstanding 4-H contestant at the Invitational. It is presented to the individual who takes initiative, is enthusiastic, and is eager to lead academic and social situations.

• 2015 - Devin Hipp - SC
• 2014 - Nathaniel Erwin - KY
• 2013 - Amy Burkhalter - OK
• 2012 - Josh Bell - KY
• 2011 - Rachel Rice - GA
• 2010 - Eli Hudson - OK
• 2009 - Wilson Pierce - GA
• 2008 - Traci Byers - TX
• 2007 - Joshua Hippler - LA
• 2006 - Chad Barclay - PA
• 2005 - Austin Young - GA
• 2004 - Andrew Day - FL
• 2003 - Daniel Gordon - GA
• 2002 - Elisa Anderson - WA
• 2001 - James Burns - TX
• 2000 - Evan Earl - LA
• 1999 - Cass Davis - OK
• 1998 - Gillian Stoodley - ME
• 1997 - Oklahoma Team
• 1996 - Ashely Couto - AL
• 1995 - Keith Piper - NY
• 1994 - Casey Puyleart - ID
• 1993 - Valeria Futral - AL
• 1992 - Katrina Hibler - WA
• 1991 - Jeff Adams - IL
• 1989 - Amy LeFlore - OK
• 1988 - Cavona Collins - GA
• 1987 - Tina McGuff - LA