Plains man wins chainsaw contest

A popular competition was brought back to Plains Day, but participants were lower than had been in the past.

The chainsaw contest was initially planned for three categories – chainsaw, hot saw and pro saw – but due to the lack of entries, they did only a regular chainsaw competition. Seven men and one woman signed up for the chainsaw competition including Drew Carey, Jesse Jermyn, Taylor Firestone, Gene Ross, Dustin Wagoner and Calvin Larsen, all of Plains, Jeff Cobylk of Seattle, and Jewels Haagensen of Paradise.

The competition had several heats, but when the wood chips settled, Plains resident Taylor Firestone took top honors, beating the second place man Gene Ross of Plains. The two switched saws in the final round, but Firestone won both.

Mike Maxwell, the Studs chainsaw shop manager, thought most people would bring their own saws, but with so few contestants, they decided to use two Studs saws, which Maxwell tuned. Firestone received a $100 Studs gift certificate for first place. Ross received a $50 certificate for second. Third place and a $25 gift certificate went to Cobylk.

Maxwell said they plan to advertise the competition more next year. He feels that as the word spreads that the chainsaw competition is back, more will participate next year.

Nearly 100 people showed up to watch the competitions in front of the VFW on Saturday afternoon. The contest got a late start and lasted about two hours. Hunter Fielders of Post 3596 ran the crosscut, ax throw and choker set competitions, while Maxwell and Amy McGraw, also of Studs Building & Home, sponsored the chainsaw contest.

Noah Hathorne Jr. and David Stowers, both of Plains, took first place in the crosscut contest and won $100. "It was worth every ounce of flesh and every drop of blood," said Hathorne Jr. on defeating his father's team, Noah Hathorne and Ben Feiro of St. Regis, which took second place. Third went to Jubal Ryan and his nephew, Spur Ryan, both of Plains. First place received $100, second $75 and third $50. There were five teams in the crosscut contest.

Loren Hutnick of Plains took first in the ax throwing competition, netting him a $50 gift certificate, followed by Billyray Holotta, 13, of Plains, the only two participants. Holotta won a $30 gift certificate. Placement for the choker set was also Hutnick in first and Holotta in second, again the only two contestants, receiving the same prizes as the ax throw.

It was the first year for Fields to run the event and it got off to a slow start, but he feels he will have a good handle on it next year. He hopes to get more participants next year.