Ben Harvill is a Fort Wayne native who started carving in 1974. For instruction, he began using a book by Richard LeMaster, a set of X-acto knives and a gouge. Since then he has progressed to power tools and high speed grinders to carve the details that is on all his birds.

He taught carving for 5 ½ years at Limestone prison in Alabama and the Fort Wayne Anthis Career Center. Ben participates in a few carving shows during the year, but spends most of his time teaching and doing commission work.