One of the liveliest competitions at the West End Fair took place late Saturday afternoon, but it didn’t involve trucks, livestock, produce or flowers. Instead, bidders vied to own unique, detailed wood sculptures carved by chainsaw artist Ben Rannels.

The annual event, held at the main stage from 5 to about 6 p.m., drew many spectators and people wanting to take home an original creation.

Bears, pumpkins, birds, owls, a groundhog, an Eagle, raccoon and benches/tables with wildlife accents were among the 37 treasures on display.

The wood carving auction drew about 50 bidders and raised $10,660, said Fair Director Brenda Hawk. She added that the total raised was “down a bit” from last year.

A portion of the proceeds goes to the West End Fair Association to help with “upkeep of the grounds and facilities,” said Fair Director Julie Weiss.

“I fire up the saw and just have a vision in my head,” Rannels said, explaining that sometimes a piece of wood might look like the shape of something. He can sculpt a bird in about 10 minutes and a large bench in just three hours.

“How can you not want one of these beautiful carvings,” commented popular auctioneer Bill Meck, who kept the auction at a fast and animated pace. When someone was joking about whether one of Rannels’ carvings was a chicken or a rooster, he said, “Why would you mess with someone who runs a chainsaw?”

Travis Miller of Cresco was the winning bidder on four different pieces, including a squirrel for $150, a “welcome bear” for $200 and a barrel bench that went for $475.

“Every year we come,” said Miller, a Marine who was joined by his mom, Patti, and fiancé, Lori Gomez. “He is awesome and does a great job,” he said about Rannels. “Last year we got a cardinal.”

Miller and Gomez also took home a sculpture with two cardinals, a rose and the words “Loved” encircled in a heart. It will be on display at their wedding reception next July. Their top bid was $320.

Some of the bidders had sentimental reasons for wanting specific chainsaw carvings.

Ken Geer of Dingmans Ferry was the high bidder on a couple of Rannels’ works of art. A “Howdy bear” for $270 had special meaning, since his late brother-in-law was named Howard and his late sister was named Dee. The license plate on their motor home said “HowDee.” Geer is planning to give the cute bear to his younger sister, who used to travel with them.

It was his first time as a participant at the event, which he attended with his friend Ceil Navarro of Middletown, New York.

“It was fun,” Geer said. Their winnings were a bright red cardinal, a raccoon and a small blue jay that went for $310.

Navarro said she might give one to her daughter.

Lucky bidders said they might put their treasures on a deck, along a walkway or inside their home. The bears and cardinals seemed especially popular.

A bench with a large bear, two baby bears and an owl was sold for the most money, at a bid of $2,000. A bench with cardinals went for $950.

Teresa Margerum, who has a vacation home in Sierra View, got her first sculpture, a “Welcome cardinal,” for $230.

“I like birds and watch them,” she said, adding that she enjoyed seeing Rannels’ chainsaw carving during the fair. She would have liked to win a bear, but the amounts went too high.

Lisa Sharp of Stroudsburg was checking out the female cardinal before the auction started and was lucky enough to have the winning bid of $200. “Cardinals are dear to my heart,” she said, mentioning how the birds are connected to loved ones who have passed, like her mom.

This was Rannels’ second year at the fair, but he has been carving for 16 years.

“I don’t really have a favorite,” he said about the sculptures. “Each one has its unique thing and I like a variety.”

During the week, Rannels completed a total of 54 chainsaw carvings, with some purchased before the auction. “People wanted bigger last year and smaller this year,” he noted. Some auction items go for higher or lower than expected, “but it evens out.”

Fair attendance approaching 100,000

Saturday was one of the busiest days at the fair. Attendance for the week was great and close to 100,000 people, according to fair director Weiss.

“Our numbers were right up there for some of our best years,” she said.

“We probably had one of the nicest weeks all summer for local fairs,” said fellow fair director Brian Costenbader. Even though the West End Fair started out with rain, from Tuesday through Saturday the weather was almost picture perfect. Other fairs had to deal with heat waves and more rain.

The second annual sensory morning was successful, with double the number of attendees compared to last year and more vendors/food stands participating, Weiss commented. It was also the second year for the livestock auction, with more 4-H kids participating. Goats, sheep, cows, and 1 pig were part of the event.

Decorative flag vendor Debra Brown from Birdsboro said Friday was her busiest day for sales. The little flags are always her best seller.

Potato pancakes, pulled pork, kielbasa and kraut, and mac and cheese are “the four big” food items sold at the stand run by Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Brodheadsville.

“We were sold out of kielbasa and kraut by 5 p.m.,” Kim Hoffman said on Saturday afternoon.

Hoffman said Senior Day on Wednesday was their busiest and the nights were busy, too.

“People are looking for our booth,” said Debbie Hartley, prevention specialist for Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission, one of the several nonprofits at the fair.

Lifesaving NARCAN was available at her table, as was the RX destroyer that neutralizes prescription drugs so they can be safely discarded.

“Such a large population of people are affected by substance use disorder,” Hartley said, adding that there will be an Overdose Awareness Day and Memorial Drive event starting at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 at Stroudsburg Wesleyan Church.

Fairgoers of all ages certainly enjoyed the last day of activities, attractions, food and vendors.

“I had a yummy hot dog,” said 5-year-old Azarah Nehmeh of Whitehall, a first-time attendee. Going on rides and winning a Pikachu stuffed animal at one of the games made her visit even more memorable.