Ballard: Showpiece Taxidermy mixes art, science | Community business - AberdeenNews.com

Posted: 05 Dec 2019 10:30 AM PST

Sam Cahoy has always been fascinated with the outdoors.

Hunting, fishing, camping — you name it. If it had anything to do with wildlife, Cahoy was in.

At the Dacotah Prairie Museum, it was the taxidermy displays that held his attention, and he was more often than not the last one out at every zoo and aquarium. Growing up, the Aberdeen native and a friend would hang out and help out occasionally at a local taxidermy shop, where his fascination for the craft began to take real shape.

Now, Cahoy, 35, spends all day, every day in his own exhibit just north of town, only a stone's throw from his home. There, in a large shop walled with mounts of every size, shape and species, Cahoy works as owner of Showpiece Taxidermy.

"It's a passion," he said. "It doesn't feel like a job. I come down and enjoy doing it every day."

Cahoy has several degrees from South Dakota State University, which have helped him in his career, though not in ways he once expected. They include an undergraduate and a master's in wildlife and fisheries sciences, along with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry.

Cahoy started experimenting with taxidermy at a young age, just for fun, and as he got older, it became a side gig as much as it was a hobby.

"This was never my plan really, it just kind of worked out that way," he said. "The more I did, the more I loved it."

Showpiece Taxidermy can mount pretty much anything brought in, including deer, pheasants, fish, elk, bison, European skulls, puddle ducks, geese and more.

In fact, there hasn't been an animal Cahoy has turned away yet, because he loves being presented with new challenges. That's even true of the more difficult types.

"Porcupines are fun to do, too, as long as you don't have to (do) 100 of them every year," he said, laughing. "It's fun to mix it up. I love the challenge of trying to get better."

Cahoy wouldn't call himself an artist, but his products are a beautiful mixture of science and art.

To create a mount is a long and tedious process — an average deer can take between 12 and 14 hours.

His shop is filled with current projects and tools — scalpel blades, ear openers, scissors, knives, sewing kits, mount accessories — and his shelves are lined with binders containing hundreds of images of every type of animal imaginable. Some are photos taken by Cahoy, others have ragged edges from being torn out of wildlife magazines. These are the files Cahoy references during every project to make sure his mounts are as accurate as possible.

"We're always trying to get better, to the real thing, that's the goal," he said. "The most rewarding thing is seeing the customer's face, seeing their excitement for all the hours of hard work."

Cahoy said not a single mount has left his shop perfect. But a plethora of world, national, state and regional awards tell a different story. The most prestigious ones he has earned are the Best in World game bird mount at the 2017 World Taxidermy Championships and the North American Champion turkey mount in 2018.

It's nice to be recognized for his work, Cahoy admitted. But mostly he goes to shows to learn from and network with fellow taxidermists.

"I don't ever think I'm going to win. I go if I have a nice piece and, in a perfect world, it'd be the piece that has the best I can do," he said. "I like winning, don't get me wrong, but that's not why I go."

News and notes

Many local shops will be having Small Business Saturday sales this weekend to make up for the winter storm that hit Aberdeen last weekend.
Karisma Boutique, 305 S. Main St., is now open from noon to 4 p.m. every Sunday until Christmas.
Runnings Supply Inc. has announced it will buy Campbell's Supply Co. at the end of the year.

The purchase includes all seven Campbell's supply stores in South Dakota, along with the Sioux Falls-based home office and distribution center.

Campbell's sells a variety of tools, farm and auto supplies, as well as clothing.

Avera@HOME Hospice patients will be honored during the Tree of Life campaign at Avera St. Luke's Hospital.

A personalized ornament can be purchased in memory or in honor of a loved one, to be displayed during a remembrance ceremony at 4 p.m. Dec. 12 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Fellowship Hall, 502 Second Ave. S.E.

All proceeds will benefit the Avera@HOME Hospice Program. For more information or to purchase an ornament, call the Avera St. Luke's Foundation office at 605-622-5887.

Dennis Batteen of Aberdeen was re-elected to the South Dakota Community Foundation board at an October meeting in Sioux Falls. Terms last three years.
Dollar General is open in Waubay.

The store, at 1107 N. Main St., is on the north side of U.S. Highway 12.

Shop with the Saints will once again bring the spirit of giving to local families this holiday season.

With the help of Presentation College basketball players, 18 children from the Boys & Girls Club will go gift shopping Monday evening for their parents and siblings. Each child will receive a Walmart gift card, and members of Presentation College's #PCProud volunteer group will help wrap the presents.

Spirit, the college's Saint Bernard mascot, will be on hand for photos.

The 2019 Holiday Extravaganza vendor fair is Saturday in Frederick.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., more than 30 dealers will be selling a variety of gifts, home decor and more at Frederick Area School, 202 Main St.

Search This Blog

Acuarium