My name is Ken Hirkala. I have been blacksmithing now for 8 years. I purchased my first forge at an auction sale many years ago. I enjoy doing demonstrations all around Saskatchewan and Manitoba. I now have an apprentice blacksmith that accompanies me. My daughter Heather was awarded a scholarship for a blacksmith coarse offered threw the Western Canadian Blacksmith Guild. Although Heather has now Graduated from School and will be going on to university, she will continue to come with me on our demonstration's when ever time permits. We have been featured in many of the small town local newspapers for our demonstrations that we do. It is a great pleasure for us to demonstrate at these events. We never charge for our demonstration and we always make sure that the little ones that watch us walk away with a part of history that they watched be made. I enjoy doing demonstrations mainly because I get to spend the day forging and listening to the on-lookers tell me their stories of the local blacksmith they remember. I also really enjoy when the younger generation show an interest in a trade from the past. I enjoy when some one asks me to make them something from the display.
ANYTIME!!!