Idaho
Nearly 200 Idaho students compete in Idaho State Forestry Contest
ATHOL — Wearing her Careywood Eager Beavers 4-H Club T-shirt and with a blue clipboard in hand, Timberlake High School freshman Lily Fry carefully observed the branch of a deciduous tree, taking note of its different characteristics.
“I think it’s going pretty good,” she said Thursday morning as she participated in the 41st annual Idaho State Forestry Contest at Farragut State Park.
“I’ve been participating since I was a rookie,” she said. “I just like seeing how many of the young people are interested in the forest and all that.”
Lily was among nearly 200 fifth-through-12th grade students from across the Gem State to compete in the contest, which tested the future foresters and someday silviculturists on their basic forestry and natural resources management knowhow.
Top individuals and teams had the chance to win up to $1,000 in individual scholarships, or $500 per team member, offered by the University of Idaho College of Natural Resources. The students must be enrolled full time in the College of Natural Resources for the upcoming fall 2024 semester to receive the scholarships.
The statewide competition is sponsored by the Idaho Department of Lands, the Bonner Soil and Water Conservation District and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Activities during the competition engage students at stations such as log scaling, map reading, tree health, soil and water quality, timber cruising, and tree and plant identification.
It was the first time for North Idaho STEM Charter Academy freshman Caleb Geckle to compete in the contest. He said he enjoys being out in the woods and may someday go into forestry.
“I’m thinking about it,” he said, adding that he likes the identification part of the process.
Kaylee Owens, a senior at Highland High School in Craigmont, said the contest was a great learning experience for her.
“I’ve never done anything in forestry before, so it’s all kind of new, but it’s good at the same time and the people are really good at helping out and directing you,” she said.
Ava Goetz, a junior at Orofino High School, looked through a clinometer to measure the tall pines off of a main trail at the timber cruising area.
“This is really fun, and I do want to be a forester someday, so this is a really good opportunity to learn more,” she said.
Sandpoint High School junior Zane Walson wore cool shades to block the bright sun as he scaled a log to determine its volume.
“I’m doing my best,” he said.
Idaho Department of Lands private forestry supervisor Ken Homik served as one of the many coordinators of the forestry contest.
“It’s rewarding and gives me hope,” Homik said. “There’s a real need out there. We need smart kids that have interest in being outdoors. It makes me feel happy.”
Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield made an appearance at the Idaho Forestry Contest to support the kids and highlight the importance of cultivating the next generation of Idaho’s forest caretakers.
“The Idaho State Forestry Contest is an absolutely incredible event for any kid, let alone kids who live around Idaho’s beautiful forests,” she told The Press in an email. “What an opportunity to get interested in every aspect of forestry. The event captures everything I love about experiential learning. It’s math, it’s science, it’s communication, it’s hands-on and it’s important education. In fact, it makes me want to get into the woods!”
Ava Goetz, a junior from Orofino High School, peers up at the pines using a clinometer Thursday morning during the Idaho State Forestry Contest. Sandpoint High junior Zane Walson measures a log at the scaling station Thursday morning during the Idaho State Forestry Contest. Brougham Collins, a sixth grader from Forrest Bird Charter School, participates in the Idaho State Forestry Contest’s rookie silviculture station Thursday morning.
The Vandal Jacks, a competitive lumberjack team from the University of Idaho, showed students the skills of using saws and axes Thursday at the forestry contest. From left: Spencer Stenmark, Josey Bouhanna, Nick Barrett, Ella Carroll, Chris Rau, Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield and Sam Bernard.
The results are in for the Idaho Lottery’s draw games on Monday, April 20, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 20.
Winning Powerball numbers from April 20 drawing
09-17-36-47-64, Powerball: 26, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 20 drawing
Day: 9-5-5
Night: 1-3-9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 20 drawing
Day: 9-3-4-7
Night: 6-9-2-8
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from April 20 drawing
05-07-31-41-43, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Idaho Cash numbers from April 20 drawing
05-12-27-33-45
Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 20 drawing
19-37-40-41-53, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
- Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- 5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
I remember watching a documentary about Idaho’s wildlands. A narrator said there were probably many parts of the state where no human being has ever set foot. I believe that, but I stay relatively close to the highways. If I were 30 years younger, I would probably enjoy exploring the back country, but today, unless a plane takes me in and out, it’s not happening. I can’t say definitively that there is one spot that I find better than others. We’re surrounded by beautiful terrain, however. One place keeps calling me back.
Like a Scene from a Legendary Movie
When I go over the mountain between Gooding and Fairfield, I take time to stop at the overlook above the Camas Prairie. It reminds me of a scene in Exodus, where the Paul Newman character takes an American woman to look across a flat plain leading to Mount Tabor. He explains that’s the site where Deborah gathered her armies. It makes me feel there is something godly about the Camas Prairie. I keep going back to this spot. Sometimes I take along a folding chair and sit and look at the world below.
Slow Down and See the Work of the Creator
Fairfield may be nothing more than a blip as people speed down Route 20, but it’s their loss. On the other side of the highway is some of the prettiest country in Idaho. It’s going to be a lot less lush this spring, but drought conditions haven’t been nearly as severe in the central highlands. But if I’m granted a few more years by the Almighty, I plan to see the prairie for many more springs.
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Gallery Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM
The results are in for the Idaho Lottery’s draw games on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 19.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 9-5-1
Night: 8-0-6
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 2-7-0-3
Night: 4-3-3-3
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Idaho Cash numbers from April 19 drawing
15-28-31-38-45
Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
- Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- 5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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