NWBA

New Agrarian School Workshop - Hammer and Tongs with Jeffrey Funk
2025-06-09 08:00 - 2025-06-13 17:00 UTC | New Agrarian School, 990 McCaffery Rd, Big Fork, MT, 59911, United States
This one-week workshop will be focused on these two absolutely essential tools for blacksmithing. Pared down from the more expansive two-week Blacksmith’s Tools class held in previous years, we’ll focus on the design and forging of hammers and tongs that are better than you can buy, using fundamental blacksmithing skills. We’ll use both power hammers and hand hammers, along with sledge hammer striking work to do the hole punching and drifting. Jeffrey’s approach to the form, forging, and heat treating of hammers has been widely appreciated in the blacksmithing community, and here is your chance to dig deep into it. Students can expect to take home several hammers and a selection of tongs, along with the skills to make more.
Less experienced folks will be admitted with the consent of the instructor.

Fireside Chat
2025-06-12 19:00 - 20:00 | WA
Fireside chat via Zoom – open to all NWBA members.
A Zoom link will be provided soon.

New Agrarian School Workshop - Knives for the Outdoors with Jordan LaMonthe
2025-06-16 08:00 - 2025-06-27 17:00 | New Agrarian School, 990 McCaffery Rd, Big Fork, MT, 59911, United States
Whether camping, hiking, hunting, or foraging, a knife is one of the most important tools to carry in the wilderness. In this two week class, students will have the opportunity to forge a variety of knives for use in the field, including a hunting knife for everyday tasks and skinning game, a camp knife for chopping firewood and clearing brush, and a small chef knife for prepping camp meals. The class knives will feature forged integral bolsters and guards, and students will be able to explore both hidden-tang and through-tang construction to affix handles on their blades. To conclude the class, students will have the opportunity to craft leather sheaths for their knives, to carry them on their next outdoor adventures.

Mentoring Center Event - Open Forge
2025-06-21 09:00 - 15:00 | Mentoring Center, 1900 7th Avenue, Longview, WA, 98632, United States
Mentoring Center Event – Open Forge for NWBA at the Mentoring Center (1900 7th Ave, Longview, WA 98632).
There will be a $20 charge to assist with shop expenses, supplies, and MC operations for the event.

New Agrarian School Workshop - Forging from the Natural World with Jeffrey Funk
2025-07-07 08:00 - 2025-07-11 17:00 | New Agrarian School, 990 McCaffery Rd, Big Fork, MT, 59911, United States
One could argue that all art and craft has its origin in the natural world around us. Inspiration from nature is part of the human experience, and the craft of blacksmithing is uniquely poised to translate impressions from nature into objects of both function and whimsy. In this class we will begin at the source, studying details and forms around us, and using the forge to bring these ideas into the world in iron. All of the basic techniques of blacksmithing will be used, including drawing, upsetting, punching, fire welding, etc. We will aim to conceive our work without reference to what has been made before, but rather simply joining the natural world to the repertoire of techniques we have to interpret it.

New Agrarian School Workshop - Tools for Farm and Garden with Jeffrey Funk
2025-07-14 00:00 - 2025-07-25 00:00 | New Agrarian School, 990 McCaffery Rd, Big Fork, MT, 59911, United States
In what has become a foundational workshop for this school, here we will indulge in the design, forging, and heat treating of all manner of hand tools for use in the garden or small farm. Here we can make tools of the highest quality, exactly as we want them, and disregard the pile of poorly designed and made tools served up by twenty first century industrial production. We will study good tools of the past, along with some creative modern offerings. Participants can expect to make trowels, hoes of various types, gardening “adzes”, possibly forks for the ambitious, as well as special tools of their design. Basic metallurgy for this type of tools will be covered, along with heat treating and finishing. Expect to take home, in addition to the new skills you learn, a nice selection of beautiful and functional tools for use in growing food.
Beginning students admitted with permission of instructor

New Agrarian School Workshop - Zen and the Art of Hammer Swinging with Peter Braspenninx
2025-07-25 08:00 - 2025-07-29 17:00 | New Agrarian School, 990 McCaffery Rd, Big Fork, MT, 59911, United States
This class will focus on the question why. Why in concept, and why in process. Through instructor led assignments we will cover a variety of techniques and design methods to ask the question, why are you doing that? To find the most direct way to construct and articulate our ideas.
We will be using hand forging techniques with power hammer assistance. Primarily coal forge work for the options it allows in process.
This class is structured so that there will be time for a final project/exploratory forging at the end of the week. So that, based on the information presented, we can apply the lessons to a design of your own voice.
Bring your ideas, an open mind, and a sketchbook. Let’s forge around, and find out. Forgewelding basics up to more advanced methods.

Hammer Jam!
2025-07-26 - 2025-07-27 | WA
Time to put summer things in your collective minds and calendars, mostly calendars. HAMMER JAM! What is a Hammer Jam one might ask (well at least one)? The last weekend of July (26th/27th), come to Scio, Oregon for a Hammer-in… but wait… and a JAM AND BREAD MAKING-in. Dan will host the hammer-in, Lisa will host bread making (including grinding grains) and jam making. Camping is available, a swimming hole, sharing of foods, and some sort of blacksmithing video for the evening’s “entertainment.” The “Great Oregon Steam Up” is that weekend and the following and just up I-5, so make it a weekend. We ask no dogs or children; our dogs are plenty for us to wrangle. Contact Dan Partin (dustbunnyforge@gmail.com) or Lisa (awence@yahoo.com) or find us on the Instagram (gunterhausfrau or didimos_farm)

New Agrarian School Workshop - Blacksmithing with Mark Aspery
2025-07-28 08:00 - 2025-08-01 17:00 | New Agrarian School, 990 McCaffery Rd, Big Fork, MT, 59911, United States
Come and join us for a week with the prolific and well- known teacher, Mark Aspery. Mark has been a force in blacksmithing education for many years throughout the West, and in this class he will build on the ABANA national curriculum to cover an array of essential techniques. “Forge welding, punching and drifting, tool-making all feature strongly in this class, with gnashing of teeth, frustration and sharp intakes of breath well represented.” Don’t miss this rare opportunity to study with Mark here in Montana.
Beginning students admitted with permission of instructor

New Agrarian School Workshop - Utensil Forging: Design and Refine with Anna Koplik
2025-08-04 08:00 - 2025-08-15 17:00 | New Agrarian School, 990 McCaffery Rd, Big Fork, MT, 59911, United States
Throughout this workshop, students will learn to make their own functional and decorative spoons, spatulas, and more with a focus on refinement, design, and delicate forging. The class will cover the basics of forging, forming, bending, and file work to make single piece steel and iron utensils. Students will be encouraged to push themselves on accurate forging and explore their own unique details and designs. Class will start with demos and projects, aiming to build technique and introduce process. Then class will expand to encourage more independent designing and challenge precise forging skills. This class is great for those new to blacksmithing or for people with prior experience who want to build their forging accuracy and design skills. Come learn to make your own unique hand-forged utensils in a fun, enthusiastic, and inclusive environment!

Mentoring Center Event: Derek Lanhart - Fundamentals of Blacksmithing
2025-08-16 08:00 - 16:00 | Mentoring Center, 1900 7th Avenue, Longview, WA, 98632, United States
Mentoring Center Event: Derek Lanhart
Topic: Fundamental techniques for the beginner
All participants at the sessions are asked to contribute $20 to assist with the supplies for the session and MC operations. The Registration Table will be open to process New and Renewing Members immediately prior to the start of the demonstrations.

New Agrarian School Workshop - American Axes with Jeffrey Funk
2025-08-18 08:00 - 2025-08-22 17:00 | New Agrarian School, 990 McCaffery Rd, Big Fork, MT, 59911, United States
This class will explore the history, design, forging, and use of axes for felling timber and working wood. Before the advent of the chainsaw spelled the end of the axe as a primary tool for felling trees in America, this ancient tool reached its most effective forms for use by both the woodsman and the carpenter. We will focus on good geometry and metallurgy to create tools that are both beautiful and practical. A variety of forms will be demonstrated including a folded wrought iron single bitted axe, a classic Northwest style double bitted axe from one piece, and a single bitted axe forged from one piece. Students can expect to finish three axes (or more for ambitious participants). If time allows, finished axes can be hung on handles made here from hickory blanks.

Swaptoberfest 2025
2025-10-03 08:00 - 2025-10-05 17:00 | Cowlitz County Fair, 1900 7th Ave, Longview, WA, 98632, United States
Mark your calendar! Swaptoberfest 2025 will be held from October 3rd through the 5th at the Cowlitz County Fairgrounds.
More details to come soon!

John Winer - 3-day Workshop
2026-04-07 - 2026-04-09 | Mentoring Center, 1900 7th Avenue, Longview, WA, 98632, United States
John Winer will be holding a 3-day long workshop from April 7th through April 9th at the NWBA Mentoring Center just before the Spring Conference. Each day will be 8 solid hours of hands on instruction. The cost for all three days is $500 for members and $550 for non-members (membership in the NWBA is $60/year). Skill level required is intermediate with some power hammer experience preferred.
This workshop is limited to six students total to ensure maximum hands-on benefit,
Local experts Peter Clark and Mark Manley will be on hand at the NWBA Mentoring Center to assist students as well during the workshop.
Also available is a one-day audit of the workshop for $35 on Thursday, April 9th, 2026. This will be available to NWBA members only on Thursday (the last day of the workshop). Participants of the audit will be allowed to spend the day viewing the workshop from the bleachers in the Mentoring Center. John will interact with the audience off and on throughout the day. Audit tickets can be purchased at the door.
Camping will also be available onsite at the Cowlitz County Fairgrounds for $20 per day.
The John Winer workshop is full. Please contact nwbainfo@gmail.com to be put on a waiting list.

NWBA Spring Conference - Longview
2026-04-10 - 2026-04-12 | Mentoring Center, 1900 7th Avenue, Longview, WA, 98632, United States
NWBA Spring Conference 2026 is happening April 10th through April 12 at the Cowlitz County Fairgrounds/Event Center – NWBA Mentoring Center located at 1900 7th Ave, Longview, WA 98632.
Conferences demonstrators this year are John Winer and Lisa Geertsen with Dave Lisch as Sunday’s Hot Tips Demonstrator. We’ll also have hands-on workshop demonstrations throughout the weekend from Dan Bowyer, Joey Guerra, and Paul Thorne.
More details here: https://blacksmith.org/spring-conference-2026/

Open Forge Day
2026-06-20 09:00 - 16:00 | Mentoring Center, 1900 7th Avenue, Longview, WA, 98632, United States
Open Forge Day ~ 9:00 AM to 4:00 P.M.
A day to work on your projects with friends at the Mentoring Center.
$20 admission fee to assist with program expenses.

Mentoring Center Open Forge/Fair Gallery Items
2026-07-18 09:00 - 16:00 | Mentoring Center, 1900 7th Avenue, Longview, WA, 98632, United States
Open Forge from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Cowlitz County Fair/Mentor Center Open House
2026-07-22 08:00 - 2026-07-25 17:00 | Mentoring Center, 1900 7th Avenue, Longview, WA, 98632, United States
Cowlitz County Fair/Mentor Center Open House during Fair – Volunteers needed!

Swaptoberfest 2026!
2026-10-23 - 2026-10-25 | Cowlitz County Fair, 1900 7th Ave, Longview, WA, 98632, United States
Swaptoberfest 2026 will be held at the Cowlitz County Fairgrounds from October 23rd through October 25.
Jim Garrett will be presenting a slide show on Friday evening covering his nearly 50 year professional career with a focus on design and tooling for selected projects.
David Tuthill and Silas Maddox will both be our featured demonstrators on Saturday.
John Huffstutter will be this year’s “Hot Tips” demonstrator on Sunday.
Check out more details here: https://blacksmith.org/swaptoberfest-2026/

2026 ABANA National Conference
2026-11-11 08:00 - 2026-11-14 17:00 | WA
The 2026 ABANA National Conference will be held in Bentonville, Arkansas
