If the Idaho State Forestry Contest is any indication, Post Falls has promising future foresters.

The Post Falls team of Esther Erickson, Tanner Short, Sean Kelly and Jared Erickson recently won the Senior Division of the 22-team state contest at the Delay Farm in Careywood with 1,792 points.

Another Post Falls team consisting of Mike Emmons, Jason Davis, Kylie Wirig and Jessica Taggart placed third with 1,583 points.

"I was very happy with the performance of all the students," said Todd Hardy, Post Falls forestry coach.

Jared Erickson, who placed third overall for his individual score, and Kelly, who finished fifth, are seniors who have helped carry the program in recent years.

"These two have been instrumental to our success over the past few years; they will be missed," Hardy said. "However, we have several freshmen and sophomores who are showing real promise. I'm looking forward to having them back next year."

Freshmen and sophomores made up the rest of Post Falls' first-place team and Post Falls' third-place team. The third-place squad was all new forestry members who hadn't competed.

"I'm already looking forward to next year," Hardy said.

At the contest, the teams of four competed in 10 events, including scaling, cruising, map reading, silviculture and tree and plant identification.

The Coeur d'Alene High team of Timber Lockhart, Kyah Lucky, Kayla Story and Emily Graichen placed sixth with 1,428 points. A Post Falls team of Tabitha Hughes, Connor Zareski, Justin Malloy and Drake Green also competed and finished with 1,264.

In the Junior Division, the Post Falls team of Timberlyn Short, Cecelia Jones, Sage Joyce and Molly Fromm finished tied for fourth with 1,072 points.