Ronan readies for Chainsaw Rendezvous weekend

RONAN — The popular Mission Valley Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous returns to Ronan fairgrounds Thursday through Sunday, with many lively activities to add to the festivities.

The public is invited to watch as five talented chainsaw sculptors spend four days revving their Stihls and Huskies and Homelites to bring to life magnificent creations from local logs donated by Greg and Kim Harding and family.

The level of artistry and skill never fails to amaze, and the smell of sawdust adds to the ambience and fun, said Ronna Walchuk, one of the organizers, whose family worked for generations at the old Plum Creek Mill.

The large “master” sculptures will be judged Sunday by Ronan artists Jan and Dave Kauffman. Cash prizes are awarded to the artists: $1,200 for first place, $750 for second and $450 for third. Each carver is given $500 plus housing and food vendor vouchers for participating in the event.

Throughout the weekend, the carvers will also be creating smaller “quick carve” sculptures made available for auction at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The large master carvings will be offered for auction at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Auction proceeds are split between the artists and the Ronan Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber’s portion will go back into the community, Walchuk said.

Craft and food vendors will set up Thursday through Sunday. Vendors include handmade burl furniture and decorations, wine barrel furniture, a knife maker and Mary’s Home on the Range Pies. Some of the chainsaw artists also may bring pieces to sell.

The 325 Bar and Grill will cater barbecued beef and chicken dinners, and is sponsoring a street dance with live music at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. They also will offer a crawdad boil during the Friday night dance.

VFW Post 5652 serves breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Three other organizations will offer food all weekend, with Indian tacos from Ronan-Pablo Youth Softball, pulled pork tacos and sandwiches from Mission Valley FFA and fresh squeezed lemonade from Deano’s Lemonade.

CSKT Forestry and Fire will be on hand all day Friday through Sunday, and Ronan Woman’s Club is sponsoring an obstacle course and bouncy house for the kids on Saturday.

All ages are welcome to try their hand at axe throwing from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, sponsored by Lookout Throwing Co. of Bozeman and Missoula.

All five chainsaw carvers this year hail from Montana: Bigfork’s Todd Coats, Julie Zimmerman from the Bitterroot Valley, Les Smith of Cut Bank and the father/son rivalry of Jeff and Ron Adamson, both of Libby. Coats is well known for his bear carvings, and the large bear sculpture he created at the first Ronan Chainsaw Rendezvous now resides at Shriners Hospital in Spokane.

“Those kids love that big ol’ teddy bear,” Walchuk said.

For more information, call Ronna Walchuk at 261-7579.