The Niagara resident received a second-place ribbon with his bluegills and blue crawfish piece and a third- place ribbon for his three swimming perch at the World Fish Carving Championship show in May in Springfield, Mo.

“When you are in the open division — which represents professional class — and come away with any kind of ribbon, it’s unbelievable,” Newhouse said. “Carvers come from all over the world — just to be in the event is an honor.”

A carver from Sweden received Best in the World title at this year’s show, he noted.

“You have to be on your toes to enter your pieces there,” he said.

ROGER NEWHOUSE SHOWS some of the natural wood fish carvings he now is working on at his home in Niagara, Wis. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

This brings his grand total to 15 World Championship ribbons.

Newhouse said he had no intentions of participating in the competition, as he hasn’t attended a World Fish Carving Championship since 2005.

Three months ago, he started to work on a carving of a natural sturgeon, which was more complex and complicated. “As it began to unfold before my eyes, I decided I need to enter this at the World competition,” Newhouse said. “I felt like it was going to win a ribbon.”

The idea for the natural carving came after he opened a piece of butternut wood he had received from a friend a few years ago. “I had been trying to figure out what to do with this piece of wood,” he said. “I finally sliced it open three months ago and found a unique star pattern from the bugs.”

After being shaped, they look like prehistoric rocks, which led him to create a prehistoric fish — a sturgeon.

Newhouse noted it was a difficult piece to do, as he went through several board feet of butternut to get it right.

“I like to leave many of my carvings natural because of the beauty of the wood,” he said.

While others in the competition had three years to prepare — the previous scheduled event was canceled because of the pandemic — Newhouse pointed out he had only a couple months to prepare for this year’s show.

Although his sturgeon and largemouth bass with a bullfrog in his mouth didn’t place, his other two carvings did.

“After not taking part in the competition for 17 years, receiving these ribbons was a kind of boost to prove to myself that my work is still good and I can compete with the best in the world,” Newhouse said.

The self-taught carver didn’t get into the craft until age 55, after attending a local woodcarvers’ show in 1999. Newhouse told his wife he had to try his hand at this hobby.

“I was really impressed — I always liked fidgeting with wood anyway,” he said. “I was particularly drawn to the few fish carvings that were there.”

All of his designs are original, one-of-a-kind pieces, he said. Newhouse, who grew up on Lake Gogebic and an avid fisherman since he was young, often uses live fish as models, especially when first starting out.

“I would catch a fish, make a pattern, then I’d take a block of wood and trace the pattern on the wood,” he said.

Newhouse says he has best of both worlds: “When I’m not fishing, I can carve fish, and when I’m not carving fish, I can go fishing,” adding, “How can you beat that?”

After only carving for a year, he participated in the 2000 World Fish Carving Championships, where he won eight world ribbons, including first place for Best of Category. He participated twice more in 2003 and 2005, earning five additional world ribbons, including another Best of Category.

Newhouse donated 48 artworks of all types and sizes from his personal collection to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, Wis. His pieces also are on exhibit at the DeVos Art Museum at Northern Michigan University in Marquette.

He displays his work as well at Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain to help other veterans realize they have potential.

He loves to share his love of carving and will teach the craft to anyone interested.

Newhouse has been the subject of regional media features over the years and is a member of the Wisconsin River Woodcarvers Club.

Newhouse said he continues to hone his skills and gets new ideas every day. “I get a snapshot in my mind, and have to focus on that one project,” he said.

He said he considers himself blessed to have his wife, Jean, as his biggest supporter.

“I thank God every day for the talent he has given me,” Newhouse said.