Conclave

Student chopping down tree — Forestry junior Cedric Burrell competes in the Pole Felling competition at the 2025 Southern Forestry Conclave held at AAMU.

The Southern Forestry Conclave is an annual competition among students from fourteen southern forestry schools in a variety of physical and technical events that is sponsored by the Association of Southern Forestry Clubs. The Conclave promotes spirited competition among the forestry students representing their respective schools and clubs, and participating in the conclave helps students develop high standards and professionalism. The Forestry Conclave is hosted by the participating schools on a rotating basis. In March 2025, Alabama A&M University hosted the 66th annual Conclave.

The first Conclave was held in 1958 at the University of Georgia. The other forestry schools that participate in Conclave are Louisiana State University, Auburn University, University of Florida, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Clemson University, University of Tennessee, North Carolina State University, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State University, Clemson University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Louisiana Tech Univeristy, and Alabama A&M University.

Two AAMU students participate in the Jack and Jill cross cut event at The University of Florida.

Undergraduates of any major are allowed to participate in the Conclave. Students can participate in multiple events, including physical and technical events. A few of the physical events are archery, axe throwing, pole climbing, log rolling, bow sawing, log birling, and cross-cut saw. The technical events include tree identification, timber volume estimation, wildlife identification, and wood identification.