   Randy Erb has been putting blade to wood for almost two decades, but not in the way you'd think. Since 1996, he has produced about 10,000 detailed wood carvings and sculptures. For years, his family ran the Grove Lake Bait Shop near Royal, which he took over in 1979. Running the shop and a full time job kept him busy, but he was ready for something different. Erb said that he had not always been creative; however, a trip to California inspired him to eventually leave his job in the concrete industry and take up chainsaw carving. "I saw a guy out there doing it and thought, well I can do that," he said. He returned to Nebraska, borrowed a saw and got to work, not knowing how far it would take him. Using only his chainsaw, he can carve a variety of landscaping or interior decoration pieces including animals and people as well as holiday items. They can come in all shapes and sizes from small wall hangings to totem poles.
 Randing holding the baby alligator at the bait shop "It's more oddball stuff, that no one else does," Erb said. What he loves about that is that each piece is different and poses a new challenge. A large project may take him a few days, but he can complete eight small carvings in a single day. All the carving takes places at the bait shop that he and his wife, Mary, still operate, located two and a half miles north of Royal. Through the use of his website, he has gained a wide range of customers. He has done carvings for individuals, organizations and even some for hotels. Erb said, "I don't have to do many shows anymore because I get so many orders over the internet." He does not believe that his talent for chainsaw carving was an accident. "I don't think you really pick anything up, it's a gift," he said. |
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