Will was raised in Virginia and North Carolina. He came to the Northwest when he was stationed at Vancouver Barracks, Fort Vancouver, Washington while in the Army Medical Corps. Will is now fully retired and has the title of driver and assistant to Kay(also loads and unloads the truck,and  helps with the display).

 

Will began carving in 1971 when working on a project for his 3rd grade son. He started whittling totem poles from "beaver" wood found along the Columbia River. Will also did relief carving and Cowboy caricatures. In 1982 he began song bird and duck decoy carving. Will travels all over the U.S. today to many carving shows to serve as presenter and judge. Over the years Will has taken part in many carving ventures and clubs. They include:

  President of Lower Columbia Woodcarvers, Longview, Washington (2 years)

  President of the Fort Vancouver Wood Carvers, Vancouver, Washington (2 years)

  Founding member and President for 2 years of the Feather and Quill         Carvers,Vancouver WA    

  President of Western Woodcarvers Association, Portland, Oregon (2 years)

  Member of National Wood Carvers Association, Cincinnati, Ohio

  Member of International Wood Carvers Congress

  Member of Caricature Carvers of America since 1996 (Emeritus Status - 2003)

Will is also a cartoonist. He sold his first cartoon for five cents when in the 5th grade. His cartoons have been featured in several wood carving magazines over the years.

Will is still a member of many clubs through out the country and still active in the Columbia Flyway Wildfowl Show in Vancouver having started it in 1988 and chaired it for the first ten years. Now I am basically a stay at home "whittler" just carving for my own enjoyment and doing only a couple of shows a year.No judging,no teaching and very little traveling.

WOODCARVER - WHITTLER

LAWN MAINTANCE/DRIVER

Will Hayden