Aaron Hovis, local timbersport competitor

Aaron Hovis poses with his racing ax, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis holds his racing ax, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Duke, the Hovis family basset hound, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis holds his racing ax, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis closes the custom trunk he uses to store his collection of racing axes. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis poses with his racing ax, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis puts on his chain mail socks, which are protective socks he wears while practicing timbersports and during timbersport competitions. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis puts on his chain mail socks, which are protective socks he wears while practicing timbersports and during timbersport competitions. (Laura Simon)

Duke, the Hovis family basset hound, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis holds climbing spikes, also known as gaffs, which are used for speed climbing up 30-foot poles. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis of Marquand, Missouri, recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis of Marquand, Missouri, recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis of Marquand, Missouri, recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Duke, the Hovis family basset hound, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis and his cross cut saw, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis practices his underhand chop, standing on a white pine log, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis practices his underhand chop, standing on a white pine log, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis practices his underhand chop, standing on a white pine log, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis practices his underhand chop, standing on a white pine log, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis practices his underhand chop, standing on a white pine log, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis' racing ax, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis of Marquand, Missouri, recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis poses with his racing ax, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis of Marquand, Missouri, recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis poses with his racing ax, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Billy, the Hovis family goat, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis prepares to shave the bark off of a log before practicing, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis poses with his racing ax, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis poses with his racing ax, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis poses with his racing ax, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis poses with his racing ax, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis poses with his racing ax, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis poses with his racing ax, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis poses with his racing ax, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis poses with his racing ax, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis demonstrates the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis stands next to the log he split in two by using the standing block chop, which mimics the felling of a tree, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Marquand, Missouri. Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)

Aaron Hovis recently took third place in the national collegiate timbersports competition in New York City's Central Park. (Laura Simon)