Building on the 4-year success of the mail-in forging exercise that’s co-sponsored by American Farriers Journal, the Calgary Stampede has introduced a similar blacksmithing program this year for creative forging.

Like the mail-in forging exercise, blacksmiths from around the world can participate in this mail-in contest without having to travel to Calgary for the Stampede.

You Pick The Item

Participants can create an article of their own choosing, using the materials described in the next column.

The items must arrive in Calgary prior to June 15 and will be judged during the 2004 World Championship Blacksmiths’ Competition in July by a panel of artists and blacksmiths. The winner will receive a set of blacksmithing tools.

“This test requires using three different pieces of steel and incorporating five separate blacksmithing elements to forge a unique and creative expression of your talents,” says Calgary Stampede committee chairman Marshall Iles. “The required elements include drawing out, twisting, upsetting, splitting and forge welding.”

Blacksmiths have to incorporate three materials into their creation: 610 millimeters of 13-by-25-millimeter flat steel, 610 millimeters of 20-millimeter round steel and 150 millimeters of 150- by 6-millimeter flat steel.

Scoring of the various types of creative projects will be evaluated on the basis of forging, quality, finish and creativity.

Promoting Blacksmith Work

“The Calgary Stampede and the World Championship Blacksmiths’ Competition are proud and excited to be able to offer this new educational opportunity to blacksmiths from around the world,” says Iles. “Participating in this new and unique event held…