About Us
Blacksmith
Sam Dembitsky
Sam @ Hays, Kansas
Mark Fresquez- "Crash"- 18
Good Kids are such a blessing!
Having a full time job & going to school
has'nt killed him.
2009 Class 1A - Yuma High School
State Football Champions
Mark's Senior Picture
Graduating May 15, 2010
On to NJC-Watch out Sterling!
Apprentice & Sales: Todd Fresquez - 15
Todd smithing @ Octoberfest in Hays, KS 2008
Todd sold everything he made.
2009 -Todd- School Picutre now 15,
Football, track, and wrestling
Justin Webb-Isabella
Colorado State pedal pull Champion
Future Blacksmith:-now 5
2009-4 year old Colorado Pedal Tractor Champion
I became interested in welding, metal and iron working at a very young age. Over the years I have built or repaired many items for myself, as well as for others. Many of the projects I worked on would require a tool that I did not have, and that would be my calling. First to build or make the tool, then to continue with the project. Some have labeled me as a sort of inventor, always with an idea or project in mind, refining the idea, then building it.
In 1992, Mr. Chuck Everitt of Longmont, Colorado was blacksmithing for the Yuma Old Threshers Group at their annual show. I was very interested in what he was doing, and he offered to teach me what he could. Mr. Everitt presented me with an opportunity and the rest was up to me. I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and ran like the devil, and I am still running. Chuck has remained a very close friend and mentor over the years, and has never turned me away when I needed him. "Thanks Chuck!"
My wife has also been very important to me through out all of this. I always wanted a nice shop of my own, but it seemed to be just a dream. It was my wife that kept reminding me that if it was worth having, it was worth waiting for, and not to turn loose of my dreams. I now have a fine shop and she is still very busy. She is there when I need an extra hand, she is my doctor for minor injuries and burns, cleans up after me when I track coal dust and soot into the house. THANK YOU SANDRA !
My grandsons, Mark & Todd Fresquez, have always enjoyed coming to grandpa's shop. When Mark was 12 years old, he wanted to start blacksmithing and I gave him the same opportunity that Chuck gave me, and Mark has done as I did, grabbed the opportunity and ran with it. Mark traveled to events with grandpa and done a lot of the blacksmithing at demonstrations. Todd is doing well with blacksmithing and one day Mark will be gone and Todd will take his place helping grandpa. Thanks Mark and Todd!
The 2004 Old Thresher's Show earmarked 14 years for Chuck, and 11 years for Sam bringing the Old Threshers Blacksmith Shop to life for their annual 3 day show. 2004 was also Chuck and Sam's last year at Old Threshers.
Sam, Mark & Todd now blacksmith at events throughout Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas and have been contacted for events in Wyoming also. Sam was also invited to blacksmith at the LosAngles County Fair in California by one of the fair board members there.
Sam also organized and promoted the first ever Antique Tractor Show in the Brush Colorado area in 2007 and made it an annual event for the following 3 years, 4 years total. After the 4th year,he had enough and didn'y have a show in 2011. Maybe he will start it up again after he gets rested up. Time will tell.
In an attempt to do my part of keeping the age old art of blacksmithing alive, we welcome spectators at the shop, and offer demonstrations to small groups, and at fairs, festival, etc. Please feel free to stop by and see what is going on. Someone is always here (unless we're gone), and always blacksmithing unless we are doing something else.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
It isn't what you take with you when you leave,
but it's what you leave behind when you go that makes the difference.
Mark @ Sidney,NE
Chuck Everitt
(The one who inspired Sam)
Don't be confused by friends and
acquaintances, there is a difference!
