2009 Wood Carvers Roundup

By Doug Evans

If you missed this year, you missed another great time. I always look forward to attending every year. I have only missed 2 of the 11 Roundups. This first one as I hadn’t started carving yet and a few years back when I had a grandchild born as the roundup started (Sandy still tells me THAT was weak excuse !).

Sandy Holder and Virginia Huffman have hosted this event at the Osceola Fairgrounds from the get go. They are so awesome and organized that this runs like clockwork ! It was rumored Sandy and Virginia both even sat down and relaxed for a bit this year !!

This year’s attendance was about 700 but several of us guessed there was crowd of 1,000 plus ! It was booming !! Over 190 campers registered and carvers attended from 17 States and Canada (such a foreign country !)
40 workshops were on the registration board but all kinds of informal mini classes could be found all over the grounds.

I carved a pirate caricature one day with Steve Brown up from Kentucky and on the second day, I carved a very interesting cross design with Mel Johnson.  Harold Joseph and I also solved the world’s problems while carving with Mel. To me, the kibitzing that happens at any Roundup, but especially this one, is half the fun.  The Roundup atmosphere of very loose classes lets you learn, carve and visit with your friends and make new friends all at the same time. Roundups are FREE which in today’s times sure is the right price for all !!

The Evart Roundup continues to attract top carvers from around the Country who donate their talent and time to teach others this great art !!

Thanks to the instructors, the chairpersons and all of you who attended for making this an event I try to never miss. Put next year on your calendars so YOU don’t miss it- June 9-12, 2010 . Be there or be square !!

Doug Evans

P.S. If you do attend , be sure to stop by and say hey !!!

To view photos from the Wood Carvers Roundup, click HERE.

When you arrive at the Gallery, click the first image, then used the arrows to move forward and back.