Chainsaws Help Libby’s Logging Competition Stay Sharp

Libby’s Clash of the Carvers International Chainsaw Carving Competition celebrates the town’s logging heritage and brings in tourism revenue during the summer season. The problem is organizers have struggled to find volunteers with the equipment needed to prepare timber for the growing event. In the past, volunteers brought their personal chainsaws to cut logs and prepare slabs for carvers. But as the competition has expanded, most volunteers no longer own equipment powerful enough for the event’s scale. Staff with Kootenai Country Montana, which operates the annual chainsaw competition, knew the equipment shortage threatened one of Libby’s key tourism events, so they reached out to LOR with an idea. LOR’s funding will help Kootenai Country Montana purchase two professional-grade chainsaws that volunteers can use year-round to prepare timber for the competition and other community events. The new equipment will help the competition continue to grow, boosting the local economy while keeping Libby’s logging traditions alive.