Jason Emmons, a professional chain saw carver from Branchville, IN, walked away with first place in the 5th Annual ECHO Chain Saw Carving Championship held October 2-4 during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. After 22 hours of stiff competition between four carvers, Emmons was awarded $5,000, the prestigious ECHO Cup and a new ECHO CS 400 chain saw for his piece, “Spirit of Southwest.”

The difficult decision was made by five judges who studied the intricate details of the statues up close before naming the winner. Sculpture entries capturing the theme “The Great American Southwest” featured realistic-looking slices of everyday life in the region, complete with feathers and fur, all made from wooden logs by chain saws in the hands of the skilled artists.

View video coverage of the full event and the finished pieces on YouTube.