August 2018 Membership Meeting

Annual corn feed/hog roast comin’ right up!

Guild of Metalsmiths membership meeting at Dan Pate’s shop August 8

Where: Dan Pate’s shop on Minnesota Hiway 56. Just three miles south of the Stanton airport at 357th street. Dan Pate does auto development and restoration. Again, last year while we were cleaning up the mess on Thursday morning (I love the concept that we clean up after the party using a front end loader) I asked Dan if he was willing to give it one more time. He is very willing. This will be the ninth time Dan and LuAnn have hosted the August meeting. This makes them even more a super hero team. If this announcement seems redundant; well, it just might be. Eight times this meeting has been a serious treat, weather and all. We should test the odds once more. Dan has a backup plan for poor weather. The shop is a bit bigger now.

35730 Hiway 56 Blvd, Dennison MN 55018

Note: It seems unusual, but right now the roads are open!!
Starting time: Dinner at 6:30. Set up starting is any time before noon. Jim Moenck, Gary Myers and Herb will be starting a fire about 9AM. We have Myron Hanson willing to host an open forge from 1 PM on. Come and make something. We have asked Seth Merritt to lead the evening demonstration. We are trying to get people who are available to come early and enjoy the day. Seth, Cliff, Tom and Wendy have already offered to move cars, trim trees and mow, but more help is always welcome. Call Herb to volunteer! 507-663-0569, or cell 507 649 1611.
n We could use one or two people with a guilty conscience to come by on Thursday morning to help with the cleanup. If you don’t have to come too far and/or if you want to see how Dan works, it would be appreciated.
Features:
This meeting features and is known as The Corn Feed. Dick Carlson has put his heart into this for years. Some of us have humbly joined in the effort. Mike Alm set a new, very high standard preparing ribs for the June meeting. The August crew will try to do a good job.
Herb, Jim and Gary plan to roast another hog. We do not promise to cut back on the garlic (unless someone has a good reason). Apprentice hog roasters are always welcome. Once again a few chickens will be prepared for those who avoid pork. Recognize the chickens will be prepared by smoking and secondary roasting in the cavity of the hog. (Some have dietary restrictions.)
Dan has a unique collection of ways to form metal sheets into almost anything you desire. He can demonstrate all of these and offers to take requests. Dan’s equipment mix has changed again this year, so do not think that you have already seen it all. He has also expanded the space under cover so we are less subject to weather. Dan often allows members to experiment with a machine: your liability. You might learn to handle a machine that will shrink, stamp, fold, staple or mutilate 10 gage steel very carefully. (Often someone demonstrates the effect of an “English Wheel” on a finger.) Safety officers take note! This paragraph is from last year, and is still the current information.
This is family and friends night. We have had some wonderful evenings at Dan and LuAnn’s park-like setting. Show and tell will be good. Do everything you can to be there. This is intended to be a very family friendly and social meeting. To emphasize the family concept I have asked Seth Merritt (a young blacksmith) to demonstrate projects that members can adopt for demonstrations at places like the power shows and fairs. They will be products that you can afford to offer to the onlookers either free or for less than $20.
When planning your contribution to the potluck, please recognize that we will be a bit long on sweet corn and meat, so think salads, breads, and desserts or whatever you think is special. If you need a hint, Myron especially likes oatmeal cookies with lots of raisins.
n Post note: There have been requests for smoked chickens to take home. They are not available on short notice. Our friend the butcher will have a few available at the end of the month, but not at the meeting. These chickens are local (Kenyon), organic and smoked to order. They are not a commodity item.
So show up. And be sure to thank the Gavins who graciously show up with the tables, chairs, and service items.
Am I still making it sound like I enjoy this?
— Herb Fick