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Master Chain Saw Carvers Unite Under a Sea of Balloons to Raise 'Wishes' for Make-A-Wish(R) Foundation of New Mexico

Competing October 3 - 5 inNew Mexico will be Terry Ahola of Grands Pass, OR; Zoe Boni ofRidgway, PA; Mark Colp ofLakeport, CA; Mark Herrington of Wilkeson, WA; Kurita Hiromu of Ichihara City,Chiba, Japan; Bob King of Edgewood, WA; Dayton Scoggins ofHeidelberg, MS; and Jeff Samudosky of Columbia, CT.

The eight world-class chain saw carvers gained seats in the ECHO sponsored Championship by placing in the top rankings of one of four qualifying events. They will compete inNew Mexico to raise money for the Make-A-Wish(R) Foundation ofNew Mexico and to win cash/ prizes totaling more than $70,000. While each brings home a prize bounty, only one wins the prestigious ECHO cup.

Returning this year is two-time winner Bob King and one-time winner Dayton Scoggins. King and Mark Colp are both members of ECHO's national chain saw carving team, who compete worldwide under the ECHO banner and serve as ambassadors for the company.

This year the carvers will have 20 hours over three days to produce masterpiece sculptures. The final sculptures will be judged on Sunday, October 5th and then auctioned with all proceeds benefiting the Make a Wish(R) Foundation ofNew Mexico. This year's carving theme mirrors the Fiesta's -- "Launching Dreams" and ECHO has set a goal of raising two wishes per auctioned sculpture. One "wish" is $5,000.

The Fiesta is a perfect visual venue for the Championship. With 700 participating balloons, the Balloon Fiesta is the largest ballooning event in the world, the most photographed event on earth and the largest annual international event held in the U.S. More than 400,000 visitors are expected opening weekend October 4 and 5, which will also play host to two famous balloon races -- the 52nd Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett and the America's Challenge. Visit http://www.balloonfiesta.com for more details and schedules.

    Major co-sponsors of this year's Championship include Bosch Power Tools
and Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA.  Visit
http://www.echo-usa.com/carvingseries to read and see more about this year's
Championship and prior events.  You can see the 2007 Championship at Chicago's
Brookfield Zoo on You Tube!  Follow the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1C0D7kK8-g

ECHO Incorporated is a leading manufacturer of professional-grade, high-performance hand-held outdoor power equipment for commercial and residential use. Developed to meet the reliability, durability and efficiency demands of commercial and residential customers in the arborist, industrial, landscaping and residential markets, ECHO products have led the industry with a proven standard of performance for more than 30 years. ECHO also markets chippers and chipper/shredders under the ECHO Bear Cat name. For more information, please visit the company's web site at http://www.echo-usa.com.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, some 271,000 associates generated sales of 46.3 billion euros (over $63 billion) in fiscal 2007. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 300 subsidiaries and regional companies in roughly 50 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Each year, Bosch spends more than 3 billion euros for research and development, and applies for over 3,000 patents worldwide. The company was set up inStuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as "Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering."

InNorth America, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial automation and mobile products, power tools and accessories, security technology, thermo-technology, packaging equipment and household appliances. Bosch employs approximately 25,000 associates in more than 70 locations throughout the U.S.,Canada and Mexico, with reported sales of $9.5 billion in fiscal 2007. For more information on the company, visit http://www.boschusa.com.

Yamaha Motor Corporation,U.S.A., (YMUS), a leader in the motorsports market, makes the toughest, most capable and versatile ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles. The company's ever-expanding product offerings also include motorcycles, outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, boats, outdoor power equipment, race kart engines, accessories, apparel and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of more than 4,000 dealers in the United States. Visit http://www.Yamaha-motor.com.

SOURCE ECHO Incorporated