This year’s Spring Conference will be held from Friday, May 17th at 8am to Sunday, May 19th at 12 noon at the NWBA Mentoring Center in Longview, Washington!
Set up for the event will start on the afternoon of Thursday, May 16th. If you’d like to help set up on Thursday or help break down on Sunday afternoon, please email webmaster@blacksmith.org to be added to the volunteer list.
The NWBA Events Center is located on the grounds of the Cowlitz County Events Center at 1900 7th Ave in Longview, Washington.
Entry to Spring Conference is for Current NWBA Members Only. To sign up or renew your membership Click Here.
Online Registration for Spring Conference will open March 1st and close May 4th. Spring Conference Registration is 100 per adult member, helping us cover the cost of site rental, demonstrator compensation and travel, hands-on workshops, forging competitions, open forges, youth and beginners forges and more.
2024 Spring Conference Schedule
We’re happy to announce that this year’s Main Demonstrators are John Switzer and Evan Wilson!
Friday, May 17th
Registration & Merch Table Open in Mentoring Center
8:00am – 10:00am // 1:00pm – 3:00pm // 8:00pm – 9:00pm
7:30am – 8:45am: Coffee and Breakfast at Cook Shack
9:00am – 12:00pm: Evan Wilson Demo pt.1 in MC
9:00am – 12:00pm: Youth and Beginners Forge with Ben Czyhold + Open Forge
12:30pm: Hands-on Workshop Participation Drawing at Cook Shack
12:30pm: Cutlery Competition Judging at Cook Shack
12:30pm – 1:45pm: Lunch and General Meeting at Cook Shack
2:00pm – 5:00pm: John Switzer pt.1 in Demo Barn
2:00pm – 5:00pm: Hands On Workshop with Andrew Windisch in the MC
2:00pm – 5:00pm: Youth and Beginners Forge with Ben Czyhold + Open Forge
5:30pm – 7:00pm: Potluck Dinner at Cook Shack
7:00pm – 10:00pm: Black Smoke Alley
8:00pm – Late: Forging Competition Starts in Mentoring Center
Flexible throughout Friday
* Open Repousse Table with Louie Raffloer
* Silent Auction
* Archives and Member Galleries
Saturday, May 18th
Registration & Merch Tables Open in Mentoring Center
8:00am – 10:00am // 1:00pm – 3:00pm // 8:00pm – 9:30pm
7:30am-8:45am: Coffee and Breakfast at Cook Shack
8:30am: Hands-on Workshop Participation Drawing at Cook Shack
9:00am – 12:00pm: Evan Wilson Demo pt.2 in MC
9:00am – 12:00pm: John Switzer Demo pt.2 in Demo Barn
9:00am – 12:00pm: Youth and Beginners Forge with Ben Czyhold + Open Forge
12:30pm – 1:45pm: Lunch at Cook Shack
2:00pm – 5:00pm: Evan Wilson Demo pt. 3 in MC
2:00pm – 5:00pm: Youth and Beginners Forge with Ben Czyhold + Open Forge
5:30pm: Dinner Banquet
6:00pm: Live Auction
7:30pm: Ringing of the Anvil
8:00pm – Late: Open Forge and New NWBA Sign Assembly in MC
8:00pm – 10:00pm: Black Smoke Alley
9:00pm: Silent Auction Closes – Winners Announced, Collect Your Winnings!
Flexible throughout Saturday
* Open Repousse Table with Louie Raffloer
* Silent Auction
* Archives and Member Galleries
Sunday, May 19th
Registration and Merch Tables Open in Mentoring Center
9:00am – 12:00pm
9:00am – 12:00pm: Hot tips with Rashelle Hams in MC
9:00am – 12:00pm: Open Forge at the Youth and Beginner’s Station
9am – 12pm: Silent Auction Winners Collect Your Items!
12:00pm: Conference Concludes
12:00pm – 4:00pm: Volunteers help with Conference Breakdown!
If you’d like to join the Conference Committee and help with behind-the-scenes planning and logistics, email webmaster@blacksmith.org for more information.
Only NWBA Members can attend Spring Conference! If you’re not a member but would like to join, CLICK HERE to learn how
Sunday, May 19th
Registration and Merch Tables Open in Mentoring Center
9:00am – 12:00pm
9:00am – 12:00pm: Hot tips with Rashell Hams in MC
9:00am – 12:00pm: Open Forge at the Youth and Beginner’s Station
9am – 12pm: Silent Auction Winners Collect Your Items!
12:00pm: Conference Concludes
12:00pm – 4:00pm: Volunteers help with Conference Breakdown!
If you’d like to join the Conference Committee and help with behind-the-scenes planning and logistics, email webmaster@blacksmith.org for more information.
Only NWBA Members can attend Spring Conference! If you’re not a member but would like to join, CLICK HERE to learn how