Teams saw their way to victory in contest at fair

Shanda Underwood signed up for the cross saw competition to "bring a little country" to the SEMO District Fair.

Dressed in a rainbow bandanna and a black Harley-Davidson tank top and jeans, Underwood competed first, with her mother, Brenda Thiele.

Jokingly protesting that they signed up "well in the middle of the list," the pair assumed their stances, each gripping a handle attached to the end of a 6-foot, 148-tooth saw.

A ridge had already been cut into a log, and the pair's task was to saw through the log in the shortest time.

They had competed once before, at Egypt Fest in Egypt Mills.

With a "go," the team started pushing and pulling, working in tandem.

Sweat beads started appearing as each woman struggled to make up lost time when the saw jumped from the ridge.

They had the crowd's support. About 100 people circled around, crying out "You go, girl!" or "All right, all right."

Several people expressed to one another how impressed they were with the only women's team to compete.

Underwood encouraged her mother with a "Pull, damn it!"

Forty-four seconds later, they finished. Grabbing a beer and a water, they joined the rest of the crowd.

Six teams competed in the event, which lasted about 20 minutes Friday evening. Each team cut off the same log.

Jimmy Sinn and Gene Meavers racked up a win, coming in at 16.7 seconds.

The friends have been competing together for "between 25 and 30 years," and Meavers joked they have an auditorium full of trophies. The 68-year-olds won at last year's fair as well.

Sinn, of Egypt Mills, was the one who encouraged Underwood to compete, she said.

The trick to winning is to not "ride your saw," Larry Romack said. He placed third and has been competing for around 20 years.

"Riding your saw is when your partner holds it down and it makes it harder on you. And if you push, the saw bends and it slows you down."

Romack arrived at the fair without a partner, but found Gene Petzoldt willing. Romack also competed with 17-year-old Tyler McCormack, who thought the event "looked interesting."

McCormack competed for the first time last year and tried to get his friends to do so this year, but they turned him down. He said he learned early that the key is to not push.

No one practices, Romack said. "The older men, they grew up sawing wood for their dad on the farm. And the younger ones, they think it looks like a challenge."

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

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