David and Mary Ahrendt

David and Mary Ahrendt work as a team with Dave doing the carving and Mary the painting. They reside and work in Hackensack, Minnesota. They gained interest in carving while working as teachers in Alaska. During the early part of their shared career the husband and wife team concentrated on creating realistic wildfowl, but now they carve impressionistic portrayals of birds. After the first scallop cut with a chain saw, Dave uses a gouge and mallet to carve the fine details into the bird. Both Dave and Mary Ahrendt have competed and judged at the Ward World Carving Championship event on an intermediate and novice level.