In July I will go to "hob-nob with my fellow wizards" at the
2nd Annual Split Mountain Chainsaw Carving Festival & Art Auction in Vernal, Utah. This unusual festival gets local merchants to sponsor carvers and there is no competition. Primary sponsors
[paying for a carver] get a custom carved piece from their artist and other sponsors provide lodging, meals, etc... It's all about the art and the auction.
The Art Auction is of pieces submitted/donated by carvers to benefit the
Wounded Warrior Project. Money from each piece is split 50/50 with the artist getting half and the other half being donated to Wounded Warrior.