Greg Schmotzer of Hastings took two 300-pound blocks of ice and crafted them into first-place honors in the St. Paul Winter Carnival ice carving competition in Rice Park on Sunday, Jan. 27.

Schmotzer created “Parrot in a Cage” and took home $750 in prize money in the professional division.

Rob Graham of Minneapolis and Tom Schiller of Hastings finished second with “Dragon,” winning $500. Chis Swarbrick of Hudson, Wis., placed third with “Timberwolf” and received $250.

In the artisan division, Chad Peterson of Monticello won for his “An Offering To Boreas.”

The competition began at 9 a.m. The professional division had a 2 p.m. deadline, and the artisan division had until 3 p.m.

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