The tradition of carving in the Ahrntal Valley. The "making room" Until the 60s of the 20th century, the farmers in Ahrntal remained self-sufficient due to their remote geographical position. Their isolated position "outside the world" but also the little money they had at their disposal forced them to develop their skills as craftsmen. All their tools had to be made by hand by themselves and that's why very skilled farm-hands were preferred. On every farm there was a room which was furnished with many tools, the so-called "making room". There the working and household tools were made out of the diverse local wood: components of wood of the plough, harrow, ore carriage, wind mill, baskets and hay carriages, as well as the sticks of the axe, scythe, broom, flail, rake and pitchfork. In winter people preferred to work in the warm living room, the only heated room on the farm. The "making rooms" can be regarded as the starting point of the development of the art and carving craft. In many of these rooms there was a lathe on which the farmers and farm-hands were working: they were turning containers for milk: large flat bowls made of arolla pine, plates, trunks and wardrobes. Some very skilled farmers even ornamented their works. The most talented men even carved crucifixes, holy sculptures and statues for the manger. They also made masks of witches and of the devil for the traditional Shrovetide. The beginnings of the commercial carving The beginning of tourism was already before the First World War - before the time of war and fascism which interrupted everything again. The beginnings of the commercial carving can be set in the 50s and 60s of the 20th century, when tourists came to the Ahrntal Valley again. Some tourists in fact, appreciated the value of the original rural carving and bought the first sculptures. Some farmers seized the opportunity and found out that carving was a good additional income. In St. Jakob it was above all Reichegger Hermann from the farm "Matziler" who had to provide for a family of twelve and also Steger Josef from the farm "Neuhaus". The carving school This example formed a precedent. At the time the Ahrntal Valley was an economically bad developed place and many had to leave their birthplace to look for a basis of their livelihood. This condition had to be changed and so some politicians succeeded in founding a carving school in St. Jakob in 1973. In the meantime more than 300 students were trained in this carving school. The school, in fact, produced many great restorers, cabinet-makers, painters, carvers, sculptors and artists. (written by Steger Konrad)