Chainsaw woodcarving pioneer returns to Randolph Fair

Ben Risney’s detailed deer sculpture received much interest at Saturday’s auction. Jeremy Brown/The Portager

Chainsaw woodcarving pioneer returns to Randolph Fair

Ben Risney made his first chainsaw sculpture at 21, when he felled a tree in the family cow pasture and carved a bear head with the wood.

That was in the 1990s. Since then, he’s made about 70,000 sculptures, won the world championship chainsaw carving competition more times than he can count and has been featured on television shows. He has a busy schedule, but he still finds the time to cultivate vegetables with a team of horses at his farm in Spring City, Pennsylvania.

Join our community of supporters to access this article

Articles older than 30 days are available to Portager subscribers with a Plus or Premium plan. Subscriptions start at just $1/month.

Already a paid subscriber? Log in here

Plus

Get more from your email newsletter.

$1+ /month

View subscription options
  • Email newsletter delivered Monday, Wednesday and Friday
  • Full access to The Portager website
  • Participate in the community forum
  • Access articles older than 30 days
  • Read the publisher's comments in the email newsletter
  • List of real estate transactions
  • Local comic strip, Headwater Tales
  • Donate one free ad per year to a local business or charity
  • Print newspaper home delivery via USPS
  • Sudokus and crosswords
  • 20% off everything in The Portager shop