by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Masters of woodworking – including local, statewide and national practitioners – will show their creations and do some demonstrations at the 11th annual Wood Expo from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 16 at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Sauk Rapids.
Admission is $5, and children under 12 are admitted free.
The expo will feature both woodworking professionals and hobbyists. There will be lots of demonstrations, information available, antique woodworking-tool evaluations, soap-carving how-to sessions, spin toys and a quilting show.
People who plan to attend are asked to bring a non-perishable food item the Boy Scouts are collecting for area food shelves.
The annual event is sponsored by the Central Minnesota Woodcarvers Association, the Mid-Minnesota Association of Woodworkers and the Central Minnesota Woodworkers’ Association.
The following are some of the highlights of the show:
- 10-11 a.m.: Gary Mrozek will demonstrate turning on a lathe thin-stemmed goblets with two captive rings.
- Noon-1 p.m.: Rollie Johnson will show how to set up a band saw.
- 2-3 p.m.: Herb Johnson will demonstrate how to carve antlers.
- 3:15-4:15 p.m.: There will be a ceremony surrounding handmade canes that some woodworkers make for Purple Heart veterans.
Last year, more than 350 people attended the Wood Expo at which there were 48 vendor booths.