Libby gears up for chainsaw carving competition

In September, some of the world's finest chainsaw carvers will come to Libby for four days of intense sculpting competition accompanied by live music, auctions and vendors.

The Seventh Annual Kootenai Country Montana International Chainsaw Carving Championship begins in downtown Libby on Thursday, Sept. 7. The event features $15,000 in prizes. Competition categories include Judges’ Choice, Peoples’ Choice, Carvers’ Choice and King of the Quick Carve, and all pieces made will be auctioned off.

The event features about 20 to 25 competitors and the city has been generous in accommodating the event, Troy Douthit, the director of the event organizing group Kootenai County Montana said.

The layout works so well, Douthit said. The street closures, in downtown Libby, allow the public to see what sculptures are doing and it gives the carvers plenty of room to work.

"Attendees can look forward to witnessing mesmerizing chainsaw performances as participants sculpt and carve logs into stunning masterpieces, all while showcasing their precision, vision, and ability to work with one of the most iconic tools of the timber trade," a press release stated.

The event, which takes place in downtown Libby, draws between 700 and 1,000 people, Douthit said.

The Montana Film Office awarded a grant to Kootenai Country Montana this year which will fund a documentary of the competition.

“We hired a very good documentary filmmaker for this, it will be a really high-end production,” Douthit said.

While the competition doesn’t put on other events, downtown businesses will host live music and events during the same time as the competition, Douthit said.

“We want to show everyone that’s from here and not from here all the things to do downtown,” he said.

The goal is to bring people in and show them what Libby is like, bringing attention to Libby is exactly why this event is organized, Douthit said.

There is no theme to what chainsaw carvers can create and all carvings are up to the artist's creativity. Last year’s winning sculpture was a woman with a rose, Douthit said.

“We’re bringing in the best carvers in the world and we don't want to limit them in any way,” he said.

Competitors come from countries such as Finland, Germany, Mongolia and Argentina to compete in Libby.

“We’re realistic about where we’re located,” Douthit said.

As such, the event pays for the competitors' hotel rooms.

“We really treat them like rockstars,” Douthit said.

With $15,000 in total prizes on the table, first place will claim $5,000. Competitors also enter their sculptures into an auction.

Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to contact event planners.

“We definitely couldn't do this without our sponsors,” Douthit said.

Admission to the event is free. The area closure includes the first block of Mineral Avenue from the north end of the west lane of the East First Street roundabout. It will also extend west on East Second Street up to the curb access of Tony’s Muffler.

Then the closure will extend east on East Second Street up to Gene’s Body Shop. On Sunday, Sept. 10, event organizers requested that the city close the entire block of West Second Street from Mineral Avenue to California Avenue to better facilitate the final auction.

“It's not a money maker by any means, so our sponsors and the public coming out is what allows the event to continue,” Douthit said. “We're just extremely grateful for all of them.”