Emile Gardiner
Research Forester, USDA Forest Service

One of my earliest projects as a young 4-H club member was to make a collection of leaves from trees native to Louisiana.  I could not have foreseen that this project, which I began as an elementary school student, would eventually lead to my participation in the 4-H Forestry Invitational, an experience which solidified my decision to pursue a career in forestry.  I am a Research Forester for the USDA Forest Service working out of the Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research in Stoneville, MS.  As a Research Forester, I conduct experiments to gain a better understanding of how environmental factors such as light and soil flooding influence hardwood seedling physiology and growth.  Knowledge gained from this experimentation is developed into improved silvicultural practices that help forest and land managers rehabilitate degraded bottomland forests, restore native forest communities to land previously deforested for agriculture, and raise fast-growing tree plantations for fiber production and bioenergy feed stock in the southern US and around the globe.

As noted above, my decision to pursue a career in forestry can be largely attributed to the experiences I received as a member of the first team to represent Louisiana at the 4-H Forestry Invitational.  Preparing for the Invitational provided my first exposure to the profession.  I interacted with many practicing foresters eager to share their knowledge.  The fundamental knowledge I gained from these professionals provided a solid foundation for beginning my academic studies.  While learning about forest and forestry was most enjoyable, my Invitational experience also gave me opportunities to work with others to achieve a goal.  Teamwork and leadership skills that I acquired through this experience have proven essential to my professional development.  However, the greatest lesson I received from my Invitational experience is an understanding of how a passion for learning is vital to success in life.  The passion to learn has carried me through strenuous academic training, has been the driving force behind my professional achievement, and enriches my personal life on a daily basis.  I am indebted to the organizers, sponsors, and professional foresters that made my 4-H Forestry Invitational experience an experience of a life-time.