dWeb ART: Chainsaw Carving was a Mother's Day Treat in Northern California

Author: Daniel Webster

By Daniel Webster dWeb.News

Jason Murieen, of Grenada, Calif., is the Chainsaw Carving Champion of Northern California.

Mother's Day at the Siskiyou Golden Fair, in Yreka, Calif., hosted the NORCAL Invitational Chainsaw Carving Championships and the U.S. Forest Service - Klamath National Forest Wildflower display. It was a treat and a half, for the folks in the northern-most area of California where the magical, majestic Mount Shasta reigns over the landscape.

The 2021 Mother's Day Outdoor Market and the NORCAL Invitational Chainsaw Carving Championships, presented by Siskiyou Credit Union, was held May 8 and 9 at the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds.

Nine world class carvers were invited to spread out over three outdoor malls to promote a safe environment. The NORCAL Invitational Chainsaw Carving Championships, usually held during the annual Sportsmen's Expo, was moved to the all-new Mother's Day Outdoor Market event since COVID 19 restrictions have been somewhat relaxed.

The two day event had three quick carve competitions, all put into the event auction where bidders could take home one of the amazing art pieces carved in just over an hour.

At the awards ceremony on Sunday, the high grossing carver is crowned the "Quick Carve" champion. In the Quick Carve competition carver Chris Foltz, of North Bend, Ore. gathered up the $250 champion's check and the new Echo Chain Saw from G&G Ace Hardware. Bob King, from Edgewood, Wash. finished second and Mark Colp, of Lakeport, Calif. was third.

Previously, the carving competition had two divisions – semi pro and pro. The champion semi-pro was Grenada local Jason Murieen. Grenada is a small town with a gas station, elementary school, church and post office, just south of Yreka in Siskiyou County.

Jason returned to the fairgrounds on Mother's Day weekend and won the Pro Division with a great giraffe carved out of pine. Murieen collected the $750 check, a banner and the trophy mug for the win.

Bob King collected up the $500 second place money with his main carve, featuring a pair of timber wolves and third this year was Jacob Lucas, of Bonney Lake, Calif., with a wild animal bench.

The 2021 "People's Choice", voted by Sunday attendees, was Chris Foltz, of North Bend Ore., for his stunning elephant. The people's choice award was presented for the first time in 2019 and Chris has won it both times. Foltz was presented with a new Stihl chain saw from Shasta Valley Chainsaw in Yreka.

The 2021 Siskiyou Golden Fair "Back to the Basics" is in full gear this year and will run August 11 through 15 in Yreka.