August 2017 Membership Meeting

Corn feed, hog roast, TGoM potluck, demonstrations…what more could we ask for at our August 9 family and friends meeting?

Where:  Dan Pate’s shop on Minnesota Highway 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 (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 eighth 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.  Seven times this meeting has been a serious treat, weather and all.  We should test the odds once more.
35730 Hiway 56 Blvd, Dennison MN  55018
Note:   Right now the bridge is out one mile south of the Stanton airport.  You have to approach from the South.  That may change by 9 August but this is your warning.
Starting time: Dinner at 6:30.  Set up starting is any time before noon.  Jim Moenck, Gary Myers  and Herb Fick will be starting a fire about 9AM.  I’m thinking it would be great if we ended up with a bouquet of calla lilies or roses by the time we do show and tell.  We are trying to get people who are available to come early and enjoy the day.  Tom and Wendy have already offered to trim trees and mow, and a bit more help would be very welcome.  “This is part of what we  mean by enjoy the day.”
Features for the day:
Myron Hanson will host an open forge from 1 PM on. Come and make something. Tom Sheely will have some roses to mimic.

• Jim Moenck is offering the demonstration of the heat treating of a knife blade.  Jim has been working on his bladesmith certification and the effort will be fresh in his  mind.   It seems all new members want to make a knife and this is their chance to  know more about what they are getting into.
• Dan Pate is offering to demo any of his “skinny metal” machines during the afternoon.  Those with an interest in metal shaping of materials thinner than 10 gage really should not miss this chance. 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.  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.  (Someone usually demonstrates the effect of an “English Wheel” on a finger.)    Safety officers take note!
• 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.
• Herb plans to roast a hog.  He does not promise to cut back a little on the garlic (unless someone has a good reason).  He will probably go back to butter for basting. 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.)

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.
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.  As per last year, if you need a hint, Myron especially likes oatmeal cookies with lots of raisins.
Post note:  Last year there were requests for smoked chicken to take home.  They are not available on short notice.  I think we can accommodate these needs (wants?) if you get your order to Herb at least two weeks before the meeting.  These chickens are local, organic and smoked to order.  They are not a commodity item. Am I making it sound like I enjoy this? …….  Herb Fick

DIRECTIONS TO DAN PATE’S FROM THE SOUTH…

If you’re coming from the North, focus on getting to Northfield, Stanton, or Cannon Falls.

• From Northfield take the road to Dennison instead of State Road 19 to Stanton.
  Three miles East of Dennison you find State Road 56.  Just go North about two miles.
• From Stanton go West just over a mile. Goodhue Avenue goes South.  It sort of parallels 56 to 350 Street.  Go east a half mile and then go South again until 357th street. East on 357th until you get to Pates driveway.
• From Cannon Falls go west (from 56) about a half mile  to the Oxford mill road. Then south sort of following the main road until it turns into County 24. County road 24 intersects Hiway 56, then and go North on 56 two miles to Dan’s.

  What makes this important is that cell phone reception near Pate’s dies out for most people.
  If lost try to call Herb (507 649 1611).  We will get a few signs at the intersections.
  Come early. Demos start around 1. Potluck meal is at 6:30.

Detailed map to Dan’s by avoiding the bridge that’s out…