I bought a 8/4"x6"x10' hickory board from a specialty lumber company in a nearby town. I think I paid $30 or so for it. I cut it into a 6' and 4' pieces. The 6" pieces was cut into 1/8"x2"(8/4") strips for backing strips and a few staves.
Check the yellow pages for specialty lumber companies near you. If you are nice they might let you pick through the stacks.