Iowans Carve Out Honors in Wood Projects Contest at Iowa State Fair

DES MOINES, IA (08/16/2015)(readMedia)-- Woodcarvers from all around Iowa gathered to showcase their skills in the Wood Projects contest held prior to the start of the 2015 Iowa State Fair.

The contest is divided into two divisions: Woodcarving and Woodworking. Robert Kroese of Pella earned Best of Show honors in the Woodcarving division. Nedra Herr of Newton grabbed second place Best of Show honors, and Clark Weaver of Grinnell received third. Judy Simmons of Windsor Heights snagged fourth.

First place in the Best of Show category for Woodworking went to Christopher Foss of Muscatine. Second place was given to Stephen Bonny of Waterloo, and third place was snagged by Bernie Kluesner of New Vienna. Derek Murtle of Des Moines received fourth.

Additional results below:

WOODCARVING

Animals Domestic - Realistic

1) David C. McConkey, Ankeny

2) Clarion Lofte, Des Moines

Animals Domestic - Caricature

1) Hazel Bohardt, Waukee

2) Hazel Bohardt, Waukee

3) Harry Pringnitz, Urbandale

Honorable Mention) John Ver Steeg, Runnells

Human Figures – Realistic

1) Sharon Powell, Urbandale

Human Figures - Caricature

1) Steve Russel, Independence

2) Roger Beane, Oskaloosa

3) Roger Beane, Oskaloosa

Honorable Mention) Gregory Humphrey, Fort Madison

Abstract - Non-Objective

1) Randy Simmons, Windsor Heights

2) Don Van Ekeren, Hartford

3) Brian Pritchard, Indianola

Stylized - Human Figure

1) Stephen Bennett, Pella

Stylized - Animal

1) Dorcas (Dee) Wolfe, Des Moines

2) Perry Schaeffer, Ankeny

3) Randall Freeman, Clive

Stylized - Other

1) Perry Schaeffer, Ankeny

2) Judy Simmons, Windsor Heights

3) John Ver Steeg, Runnells

Miscellaneous- Jewelry

1) Richard Peterson, Callender

2) Judy Simmons, Windsor Heights

Miscellaneous - Signs, Canes & Gunstocks

1) George Nagla, Des Moines

2) Roland Brown, Altoona

3) Roland Brown, Altoona

Miscellaneous - Chip Carving

1) Linda Medhus, Gilman

2) Dwayne Mortenson, Knoxville

Miscellaneous - Woodburning

1) Nole Blair, Auburn

2) Dee Johnson Design, Des Moines

3) Nole Blair, Auburn

Miscellaneous - Miniatures

1) Judy Simmons, Windsor Heights

2) Roger Beane, Oskaloosa

3) Hazel Bohardt, Waukee

Miscellaneous - Decorated Functional Frames & Clocks

1) Nedra Herr, Newton

2) Rex Kepford, Des Moines

3) Charles Spitler, Des Moiens

Miscellaneous - Bark Carving & Cyprus Knees

1) Judy Simmons, Windsor Heights

2) Roger Beane, Oskaloosa

3) Robert Frisk, Des Moines

Miscellaneous - Seasonal Decorative

1) Roger Beane, Oskaloosa

2) Perry Schaeffer, Ankeny

3) Roger Beane, Oskaloosa

Honorable Mention) Steve Russell, Independence

Whittled Pieces - Chains, Balls & Cages

1) Roger Beane, Oskaloosa

2) Ed Hazelton, Ankeny

3) Darren Bingham, Melcher

Decoys - Ducks & Geese Floating

1) Clark Weaver, Des Moines

2) Robert Kroese, Pella

3) George Sarris, Council Bluffs

Decoys - Shore Birds

1) Don Lund, Iowa City

Decoys - Other Waterfowl

1) Richard Peterson, Callender

2) None Awarded

3) Harvey Blanchard, Hartford

Decoys - Working Decoys

1) None Awarded

2) Robert Sellers, Council Bluffs

2) Robert Sellers, Council Blufs

Wild Fowl - Birds of Prey

1) Richard Peterson, Callender

2) Harvey Blanchard, Hartford

3) Harvey Blanchard, Hartford

Wild Fowl - Song Birds

1) Robert Kroese, Pella

2) Mary Lou Snyder, Cedar Falls

3) Clark Weaver, Grinnell

Wild Fowl - Upland Game Birds

1) Robert Kroese, Pella

2) Mary Lou Snyder, Cedar Falls

3) Tom Swale, West Des Moines

Wild Fowl - Miniature Birds

1) Robert Kroese, Pella

2) Richard Peterson, Callender

3) Randall Freeman, Clive

Wild Fowl - Birds (group or pair)

1) Robert Kroese, Pella

2) Richard Peterson, Callender

Novice Adult - 1st Year Carver, Age 18 & Over

1) Darren Bingham, Melcher

2) Jodie Bingham, Melcher-Dallas

3) Darren Bingham, Melcher

Youth - Age 12 & Under

1) Ian Landers, West Des Moines

2) Levi Koth, Des Moines

3) Larissa Koth, Des Moines

Youth – Age 13-18

1) Emma Landers, Urbandale

Wildlife – Realistic Predators

1) Philip Kohler, Ankeny

2) Hazel Bohardt, Waukee

3) Sharon Powell, Urbandale

Wildlife - Other Animals

1) Philip Kohler, Ankeny

2) Tom Swale, West Des Monies

Wildlife - Fish/Sea Mammals

1) Steve Russell, Independence

2) Stephen Bennett, Pella

3) Harvey Blanchard, Hartford

Religious Carving - In the Round

1) Hazel Bohardt, Waukee

2) David Lammers, Sioux Center

Religious Carving - Relief

1) Robert G. Anderson, Jefferson

Relief Carving – Historic Architecture Scenes

1) Robert G. Anderson, Jefferson

Relief Carving - Nature Scenes

1) Leroy Orth, Ames

Relief Carving - Natural History

1) Don Van Ekeren, Hartfod

Relief Carving - Scene (other than nature)

1) Nedra Herr, Newton

2) Denis Johansen, Knoxville

3) Don Van Ekeren, Hartford

Relief Carving - Human Subject

1) Roger Beane, Oskaloosa

2) Dwayne Mortenson, Knoxville

3) Denis Johansen, Knoxville

Group Carvings

1) Perry Schaeffer, Ankeny

2) Harry Pringnitz, Urbandale

3) Don Van Ekeren, Hartford

Instructor Assisted - Birds

1) Lee Johnson, Des Moines

Instructor Assisted - Human

1) Roger Beane, Oskaloosa

2) Roger Beane, Oskaloosa

3) Hazel Bohardt, Waukee

Instructor Assisted - Wildlife

1) Dorcas (Dee) Wolfe, Des Moines

2) Darrell Brown, Des Moines

Roughouts - Human

1) Linda Medhus, Gilman

2) Roger Beane, Oskaloosa

3) Sharon Powell, Urbandale

WOODWORKING

Turned Wood - Bowl

1) LeRoy G. Monson, Waukee

2) LeRoy G. Monson, Waukee

3) Robert Beattie, Des Moines

Honorable Mention) Tom Baker, Altoona

Honorable Mention) Matthew Watznauer, Granger

Turned Wood - Box

1) Jamie Retzinger, Ankeny

2) Dave Rabe, Ottumwa

Turned Wood - Hollow Vessel

1) Dick Meuler, Runnells

2) Robert Wallace, Ames

3) Robert Beattie, Des Moines

Turned Wood - Household Item

1) Robert Beattie, Des Moines

2) William Zitterich, Ames

3) Dick Meuler, Runnells

Turned Wood - Pen, Pencil, Seam Ripper, etc.

1) Matthew Watznauer, Granger

2) Matthew Watznauer, Granger

3) Dave Rabe, Ottumwa

Turned Wood - Seasonal

1) None Awarded

2) Dick Meuler, Runnells

Turned Wood - Segmented Bowl or Vessel

1) Stephen Bonny, Waterloo

2) Dave Rabe, Ottumwa

3) Richard Thompson, Winterset

Turned Wood – Stylized

1) None Awarded

2) Tom Van Hon, Des Moines

3) Tom Van Hon, Des Moines

Turned Wood - Any Other

1) Dick Meuler, Runnells

2) Robert Wallace, Ames

3) Daniel Henderson, Waukee

Other Techniques - Luthier Class

1) Christopher Foss, Muscatine

2) Roger D. Anderson, Marengo

3) Roger D. Anderson, Marengo

Honorable Mention) Christopher Foss, Muscatine

Other Techniques - Wood Inlay or Intarsia

1) Dave Rabe, Ottumwa

2) Joe Weingart, Des Moines

3) Dave Rabe, Ottumwa

Honorable Mention) Robert Wheeler, West Des Moines

Other Techniques - Furniture Item

1) Derek Murtle, Des Moines

2) LeRoy G. Monson, Waukee

3) Kevin Rinard, Pleasant Hill

Honorable Mention) Karen Schrage, Indianola

Other Techniques - Table

1) Tom Brumback, Alleman

Other Techniques - Model

1) Bernie Kluesner, New Vienna

Other Techniques - Household Item

1) None Awarded

2) Lee Nepple, Clive

Other Techniques - Wood Toy

1) Nedra Herr, Newton

2) David Cretors, Grimes

3) Sonny Melchers, Fairfield

Other Techniques - Scroll Saw

1) Todd Olstad, West Des Moines

2) Todd Olstad, West Des Moines

3) Hubert Morris, Ankeny

Senior Citizen Project

1) Pat Marnin, Stuart

2) Pat Marnin, Stuart

3) Sonny Melchers, Fairfield

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Frequently ranked as one of the top events in the country, the Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair located at East 30th and East University, just 10 minutes from downtown Des Moines is Iowa's greatest celebration with a salute to the best in agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement. "Nothing Compares" to the 2015 Iowa State Fair, August 13-23, 2015. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.