28th Annual Woodcarving Show and Sale
May 5 & 6, 2007

Carvers and vendors from 9 states came to the Ozarks to exhibit, compete, demonstrate and sell their carvings/wood turnings/carving supplies at the North Arkansas Woodcarvers' 28th Annual Show and Sale that was held May 5 and 6, 2007 at the Baxter County Fairgrounds in Mountain Home, AR. Over 147 ribbons, plaques and awards were presented including 51 cash prize awards. Randy Landen, the competition's judge, carefully scrutinized the 205 carvings entered for judging from the 45 categories. Randy was assisted by NAWC club members Roberta Dulaney, recorder; Debra Bergum, photographer; Jay Nottingham, announcer; Dick Dulaney, carving entry table; Norm Rutledge, carving entry handler; Bonnie Davis and Sandy Smith, show coordinators.

Kathi Clark arranged for fresh brewed coffee to begin each day of the show and doughnuts on Saturday morning. Ray and Jean Kropke worked the entry booth making sure that everyone visiting the show was warmly greeted and received a door prize ticket as well as a People's Choice Ballot. Admission for both days was free, but donations are always greatly appreciated. Jody Nottingham assisted by Karen Rutledge, Margie Clements and Margie Dotson, did a wonderful job selling tickets at the raffle table. Barb & Sidney Edelbrock, Norm Rutledge, Curt & Deen Shirkey, Dave McConkey, Ellen & Bob Karpen and Warren Brown handled the club and door prize tables selling T-shirts, mugs, hats, memberships, etc., and coordinated the drawings for the hourly door prizes. Behind the scenes "sign committee" members were Norm Rutledge, Warren Brown, Dick Dulaney, Bonnie Davis, Kathi & Jerry Clark, and Gary & Sandy Smith. Nine extra tables were lent to us by the Lakeview Community Club with permission from Ray Greeley and were picked up / returned by Doug Stephens and Curly Caldwell with help from Gary and Sandy Smith. Sid and Barb Edelbrock also picked up/returned additional tables from the Clarkridge Volunteer Fire Department.

Art Boatright of Marion, IL again pleased the crowd at the entrance to the building with his wonderful chainsaw carvings. Art donated a magnificent chainsaw "Welcome/Go Away" Bear for the raffle that was won by Lola Doughty of Mountain Home, AR. The NAWC "Friendship Walking Stick" was won by local carver Joyce Trieble and the NAWC "Friendship Cane" was won by Tom McGlynn of Hillsboro, MO. Sherrye Futterer of Russellville, AR won the $50 Savings Bond donated by Liberty Bank.

Our club, in a joint effort, put together the walking stick and the cane for the raffles. Carvers for the walking stick were: Kathi Clark, Jim Clements, Sandy Smith, Norm Rutledge, Naomi Inglett, Len Dillon, Sid Edelbrock, Anna Sue Hickman, Ken Doran, and Charley Roets. The cane contained carvings donated by: Kathi Clark, Robin Brinker, Len Dillon, Lenora Bryant, John Uelmen, Jay Nottingham, Ray Bryant, Norm Rutledge, and Ken Doran. Kathi Clark carved both handles and Sid Edelbrock assembled them. Much interest was displayed for all of our Raffle items as was shown by the number of tickets for each carving.

Len Dillon's "Unlimited Hand Tools" Whittling Contest was a very popular event this year. Len's "wood carving friends" generously donated knives, gouges, roughouts, mugs, gift certificates and catalogs to his contest. Sadly, Len was unable to attend due to a medical condition, so NAWC member Roland Ellis presided as the contest's substitute announcer. Anna Sue Hickman graciously brought in and set up her sound system to help Roland with his play-by-play. Eleven carvers entered Sunday afternoon's contest and were given a time limit of 1 hour plus a 10 minute break. Contestants included (alphabetically) Chuck Bailey, Deb Bergum, Ol' Don Burgdorf, Kathi Clark, Gary Freeman, Bruce Futterer, Wm. Early Gray, Jeffrey Higginson, Timothy Higginson, Sandy Smith and Ed Zinger. The carvers were allowed unlimited hand tools and were given a 2"x2"x6" chunk of basswood (donated by Dale Heinecke) to carve a "masterpiece". Randy Landen, Dale Heinecke and Rick Frels (substituting for Larry Yudis) judged the results.

First, second and third place winners received a plaque from NAWC, a "prize" of their choosing, a Woodcraft Shop gift certificate plus a Heinecke Wood gift certificate. Bruce Futterer placed first; Sandy Smith - second and Timothy Higginson - third. Special thanks go to Larry and Carol Yudis for their generous gift certificate donation and to Dale Heinecke for the "whittling" wood and the gift certificates. Heartfelt thanks go to Len Dillon for putting it all together and along with our thanks go our thoughts and prayers for his speedy recovery.

Saturday evening's banquet dinner/auction was held at the Baxter Inn. RIO entertained approximately 80 diners with their "live" music. Everyone received a first aid kit (with NAWC club advertising) and a ticket for the door prize raffle that was held before the meal. An auction, led by Ray Kropke, was conducted to generate funds for next year's show. There were many wonderful items auctioned as well as many very happy winning bidders with their prizes.

Sincere thanks go to all participants and to the club members who graciously volunteered their time to make it all work. Heartfelt appreciation go to the vendors, businesses, club members, visiting carvers and friends who donated money, merchandise and their time to help make the show a success. Special thanks go to the "sign committee" who trekked through high grasses and dodged rain to set up and break down the club's wooden signs making sure that the public knew when and where the show was to be held. Without all of their generous help and support the show could not have been possible. The Show Committee is already discussing plans for our 29th Annual Show to be held May 3 & 4, 2008. See you there!

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Photos by Deb Bergum

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