Glacier Country News

Jared Landin, a member of the University of Montana's Woodsman Team, initially struggled with axe throwing, but persistence has paid off. This month, he will compete alongside his team in the annual collegiate and Pro-Am competitions at Fort Missoula. The team specializes in events that replicate traditional logging practices, such as crosscutting, axe throwing, and log rolling. They practice three times a week in preparation.

Landin, an Army veteran and former wildfire ambulance driver, found a community in the Woodsman Team at UM. He said about his experience, "Doing difficult things with the same group of people over and over again is a rewarding experience no matter where you’re doing it."

Pete Caffrey, who participated in the team 25 years ago after his military service, praised its role in helping student veterans transition to college, saying, "Soldiers want to do something with their hands to feel success."

Alex Kaper, a junior and former team captain, highlighted the diversity of the team. He said, "My friends think nothing like me, look nothing like me, but we strengthen each other and offer different perspectives on the same cause."

Despite having no forestry background, Kaper credits his Woodsman Team experience with equipping him for a job in forest management that has supported his education. He also developed leadership skills, which he plans to use in his future career. Caffrey shared this sentiment, stating that his leadership role on the team taught him valuable interpersonal skills.

The competition at Fort Missoula is the culmination of the hard work the team puts in each year. Kaper and Caffrey recall their experiences at previous competitions fondly, with Caffrey noting the camaraderie and sacrifices made for the team's success.

In preparation for the event, the team conducts a "block run" to harvest wood. Kaper spoke about the process, saying, "You got to see all the skills that every student has been working on for years."

Landin is about to compete in his first Pro-Am competition and is motivated to excel, thanks to the influence of teammates like Kaper. Encouraging the public to attend, he shared, "There’s going to be some real talent on display there."

The events are free to the public, promising displays of skill such as chopping through two-foot blocks and climbing to significant heights.

###

Contact: Elizabeth Harrison, director of communications, W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, 917-656-9773, elizabeth.harrison@mso.umt.edu.