By Rebekah Hall, U of A System Division of AgricultureRISON — The metallic clang of hammers rang out at the Pioneer Village in Rison, where members of the Cleveland County 4-H Blacksmithing Club forged their own tent stakes from low-carbon steel.The club’s monthly meeting took place April 19 during the Pioneer Craft Festival. The Pioneer Village, a collection of historical homes and structures dating back to the 1800s, includes a blacksmith’s shop built by local volunteers. Ed Montgomery, leader of the Cleveland County 4-H Blacksmithing Club, said the location has been perfect for their group.“This was specifically built to be a blacksmith’s shop,” Montgomery said. “Two retirees named Bill Gray and Luther Drye built this from used sheet metal and lumber from Luther’s sawmill. They donated their time in addition to the building materials. It’s been a great thing for the kids and the Pioneer Village.”Montgomery said his passion for blacksmithing first began as a kid, when he was a member of the Scott County 4-H Buckskinners.“Our club wasn’t all about blacksmithing, but as part of it, we had a forge,” Montgomery said. “None of us knew what we were doing with it, but we just got out there and learned what we could. It really took for me. I don’t do it for a living, but I just love to do it. Since then, I’ve collected as many tools as I can and just continually learned about it.”The Cleveland County Blacksmithing Club began meeting in the fall of 2023, and its members include Montgomery’s three children.“I enjoy showing this to them,” Montgomery said. “It’s passing on something that I feel is an important skill.”At their April meeting, 4-H members shaped small pieces of low-carbon steel into tent stakes by tapering and sharpening one end to be hammered into the ground, then using the tip of an anvil to curl and press the top of the stake i...
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