David Nye Fan Bird Raffel

A chance to win a fan bird, donated by David and Sally Nye of Fennville, MI, encouraged visitors at the 2013 Sioux Empire Woodcarving Exp to write in the name of their favorite contest entry as a vote for the People's Choice Award.  By the end of the week over 100 ballots were stuffed into the pickle jar.  Since a "Miss Sioux Empire Fair" was not available this year to make the drawing official, a young lady named Paige, who helped out all week in the Arts Building, agreed to preform this important task--even though she admitted her own name was in the mix.  The ballots were dumped into a large plastic pail, stirred up and shaken, and Paige, with her eyes tightly closed, reached in and pulled out...can you believe...the name of her own sister!  Congratulations Kiah Boetel!

For information on Fan Birds: http://fancarversworld.com/home.html 

People's Choice Award

Bison Bull in White Ash
by
Arne Bortnem

2013 Expo Winners

Competition was fierce at the 2013 Sioux Empire Woodcarving Exposition, and Craig Thompson did a masterful job of judging.  Out of  the 40 entries he picked a basswood relief done by Gerry Gackle as the Best of Show.  Congratulations Gerry!

First Place Winners:

The Old Homestead
by
Gerry Gackle

       Dave Johnson
       Gerry Gackle
       Arlan Thomas
       Bill Huntimer
       Bill Dickey
       Mel Anderson

Second Place Winners:
      Gene Dickey
      Mel Anderson
      Glen Novak
      Bill Dickey, Sr.
      Dave Johnson

2013 Sioux Empire Fair Woodcarving Expo

Watching over the Woodcarving Expo is not easy work,
but somebody has to do it!

With just weeks away from fun at the fair, it's time to finish up those fantastic new creations for entry in the wood carving competition, fill in the Entry Form, and sign up for a shift to watch over the exhibit. You can download the Rules and Regs / Entry Form at:
Sioux Empire Fair Woodcarving Exo

Entries should be received at the Arts Building Friday, Aug. 2nd, 12 -4 PM, or before judging begins at 10 AM, Saturday, Aug. 3.

The Arts Building will be open for visitors by 12 Noon.

To see the current Duty Schedule click:
2013 Sioux Empire Woodcarving Expo Schedule

To reserve a duty shift or arrange a different time and place for delivering your entry, contact Arne:  605-359-7067; stumpkicker@hotmail.com.

Oldest and Youngest Members

Mallard Duck
Painted relief by Verne Luke

Loon Relief
by Verne Luke

We will be celebrating Verne Luke's 90th birthday in November of this year.   Verne began attending meetings of our carving club in 1998.  One of his first projects was a boot, and now relief carving is one of his favorite styles of carving.  His most recent works feature a hand holding the cross of Christ and a large size ball in a cage.  He is and active member of the Shiriners, and  regularly attends our third Saturday meetings at the Center for Active Generations.

Verne in his back yard at Creekside Dr in Sioux Falls, SD

Derek Boekoff is the youngest member of SDWC.  He is also the Vice President of our club and will no doubt become one of America's finest woodcarvers.  Read more about him in the Meet the Members Post, Feburary, 2009:
http://sdwoodcarvers.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html

Derek's Cross and Crown
(Showing how to improvise  on a  project cut out)