Blacksmiths firing up forges for Hammerfest X

By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

MOUNTAIN VIEW - Hammerfest X will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sautrday at the Ozark Folk Center. The day will feature blacksmithing demonstrations and competitions.

A regular admission ticket to the craft village will get participants into the Hammerfest celebration.

Admission to the Ozark Folk Center craft village is $10 for adults and $6 for children.

Coffee and cookies will be available all day at the Country Kitchen next door.

Throughout the day blacksmiths Nelson Anderson, Billy Koch, J.D. Edwards and Scott Riedy will demonstrate their forging techniques.

There will be lots of handforged ironwork for sale. Tables will be set up in the courtyard for a tool swap.

Bring items you are no longer using and trade for something you need.

The annual leaf-making competition will be held starting at 1 p.m. Watch as smiths take less than seven minutes to turn a chunk of steel into a leaf. Sign up for the competition is at the forge counter.

There will be a broom handle-making competition sponsored by Laffing Horse Brooms starting at 2 p.m. Firstprize is $50; there are certificates for second and third prizes. Broom handles will be judged by broom maker Gary Richeson, with J.D. Edwards assisting on iron technique. Sign up is at the forge counter.

There will also be a People’s Choice competition.

Prizes will be certificates for first, second and third place. Call (870) 269-3851 for more information.

Three Rivers, Pages 52 on 10/09/2008