Carving out a dream

Myles Nasby does most of his chainsaw carving at his rural Ridgeville home on the Jay-Randolph County line.

He’s carved at the Jay County Fair for the last three years.

And he’s traveled to various carving events to compete and display his work over 20 years.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to put one on myself,” Nasby said.

That dream will become reality this weekend as he hosts the Jay County Chainsaw Carving Invitational and Vendor Fair at Jay County Fairgrounds.

The event will feature a total of seven carvers, including Nasby. They will carve as many pieces as they can over a three-day period — noon to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Those pieces will then be sold during an auction beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday.

The carver whose pieces draw the most overall money in the auction will win the top prize of $800. Second prize will be $400.

The goal is for the auction proceeds to cover the cost of the event with some money left over to contribute back to the community.

“This year being the first year, it’s kind of hard to judge how well everything is going to go,” said Nasby, who has lived in east-central Indiana for about eight years. “That’s definitely the main goal for this event is that the event ends up paying for itself and then I can give back to an individual or an organization every year.”

In addition to the chainsaw artists — Derek Richardson of Kentucky, Chaz Chiafos of Indiana, Jeff Coss of Iowa, Josh Miller of Delaware, James Brinley of South Carolina and Rachael Mirth of Kansas will join Nasby — the event will also feature vendors, kettle corn and other activities. Vendors will be set up in the Women’s Building. Hand carvers, though not part of the auction competition, are also scheduled to attend. And Valhalla Axe Hall of Redkey will offer axe throwing.

Nasby is a second-generation chainsaw carver, following in the footsteps of his father Rick. He sold his first piece when he was 13.

“Carving was how I got my gas money through high school,” said the Columbus, Indiana, native.

He worked in construction and excavating following graduation from Indian Creek High School while continuing to carve on the side. A year ago, he made chainsaw carving his full-time profession.

“I was getting so busy with it,” said Nasby. “It’s still booming.”

The chainsaw invitational came together as Nasby made connections in the community. He mentioned Jay County Chamber of Commerce, Jay County Visitors and Tourism Bureau, Chad Fifer of Fifer services and Jay County Fair Board.

“Everybody pretty much came together,” Nasby said. “It was … a team effort really on everybody’s part. It’s kind of like a dream coming true right now to be able to put one of these events on and try to give something back to the community — something else for everybody to do and try to bring more people from outside into town.”

The chainsaw invitational, a free event, is part of a busy day at the fairgrounds that also includes a Jay County Fair Cards Coins Comics and Collectibles Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Bubp Building, the Jay County Cancer Society Survivor Cruise-in from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday with carnival games from 5 to 7 p.m. and the fair board’s sunflower maze (daylight hours). The carvers will be set up in the open area east of the Farmer’s Building.