New Ironwork Category at the Spokane County Interstate Fair
We are very excited that the Spokane County Interstate Fair has agreed to add Ironwork lots to the Crafts Exhibition this year! This is a wonderful opportunity for the local blacksmithing community to share our craft with the public, and to exhibit a variety of our wares. We hope that the three lots that we were given can be expanded on in the future, and it will take a good showing from the blacksmithing community to make that possible, so please take the time to enter your ironwork in the fair this year. There is NO FEE to enter!
View the Exhibitor Guide here! The entry form is on the last page (p. 11), and the ironwork lots are on p. 10 under Class 18 – Let’s Give It A Try, because this is its first year.
Lot 1 they called Ornamental/Structural. We had requested an ornamental & sculptural category, so “structural” may have been a typo, don’t let it intimidate you. Please use this category for anything that doesn’t fit into Lot 2 (Tools) or Lot 3 (Knives), whether it be jewelry, art, hardware, etc. Lot 2 (Tools) could be tools you’ve made, or also spoons, steak turners, fire pokers, etc, let’s interpret that broadly. Lot 3 (Knives) can include any kind of blade, and we are told there is a glass case where these will be displayed. You can enter two items per lot, and you can enter all three lots, and all items must have been made since September of last year.
The entry forms must be postmarked by August 9th, but items must be delivered on September 6, so everyone still has time to forge something if you don’t have anything ready for exhibition yet. CFI is planning some open forge events for July and August to help with this, so stay tuned for details. Again, entering is free, and your participation will not only help us to secure ironwork’s place at the fair for future years, it will aid in the public’s exposure to blacksmithing as a thriving craft, not just a thing of the past. We make more than swords and horse shoes!
Oh, and there is also PRIZE MONEY! The ironwork lots will be judged by an experienced member of the blacksmithing community, who shall remain anonymous, and the entries will be awarded prize money determined by their point score. There is more information about this and everything else you might want to know about exhibiting at the fair in the Exhibitor’s Guide. We hope you will choose to exhibit your work this year, and help us make a strong showing at our first exhibit at the fair!
***Edit: This post originally stated that only one entry could be made per lot, but was corrected 6/26 to reflect that two items can be entered per lot for the blacksmithing lots.
