National Curriculum Education
at the 2026 ABANA Conference
Meet the Instructors:
Looking to improve your blacksmithing skills? We’re here for you with lots of Education options at the ABANA 2026 Conference, November 11-14 in Bentonville, Arkansas.
We have a hands-on National Curriculum area led by Victoria Ritter and Jake Trogdon. Victoria is the CBA Education Chair and both are National Curriculum instructors that teach and demonstrate at events and workshops. The hands-on area will focus on core curriculum skills, including:
- Forge-welding
- Hand tool making and heat treating
- Punching/drifting
- Scroll finials
- And more!
As part of the hands-on area, we have a session specifically set aside to work on what YOU need to get through the National Curriculum – bring what you’re struggling with and we’ll help troubleshoot.
Concurrently, Becky Schimpff and Mark Sperry will be leading a demonstration on how to figure out the challenges of the ABANA Level II grille. Becky Schimpff is ABANA’s Education Chair and National Curriculum Instructor. Mark Sperry is a journeyman blacksmith at Colonial Williamsburg. They will focus on the “trouble” spots and provide a number of options to help you get across the finish line! Come with questions!
Be sure to bring your National Curriculum projects and grilles for evaluation and certification! The conference will be a fantastic opportunity to receive feedback, troubleshoot challenges and get signed off for certification.
New to blacksmithing? We also have a beginner’s area with fun projects that you can try out and then show off to your friends!
Schedule of Education Demos & Classes
Thurs, Nov. 12, 9am-12pm: Level I – Tool Making & Heat Treatment (1/4″ Round Punch) – Victoria Ritter
In Level I you learn to make your own tools with sucker rod or 4140 tool steel. We’ll kick off the Conference by forging and heat treating a round punch that we’ll use in the afternoon to punch the rivet hole in a set of scrolling tongs. Victoria Ritter will walk you through important considerations in making your own tools, and do a deep dive into heat treatment fundamentals. Tools you might wish to bring: tongs to hold 3/4″ round bar, hot rasp/ file, cross peen hammer, rounding hammer.
Thurs, Nov. 12, 2pm-5pm: Level II – Scrolling Tongs – Jake Trogden
Every blacksmith should know how to make their own tongs! In the afternoon session, we’ll make the Level II scrolling tongs. Jake Trodgen will show you how to isolate the material that will become the jaws and boss, draw out the reins and assemble the tongs. We’ll use the round punch from the morning session to punch the hole for the rivet. Tools you might wish to bring: 1/4″ round punch, ruler, hot cut chisel, cross peen hammer.
Fri. Nov. 13, 9am-12pm: Level I – Forge Welded Spoon – Victoria Ritter
Forge welding is one of the more challenging of the blacksmithing fundamentals. Victoria Ritter has some great tips and tricks to make it second nature. We’ll be forging a forge welding flux spoon by folding the end of the bar. Come with creative ideas for your own spoon design! Tools you might wish to bring: tongs to hold 3/8″ round bar, cross peen, rounding hammer, ball peen hammer, hot cut chisel.
Fri, Nov. 13, 2pm-5pm: Level II – Beveled Scroll – Jake Trogden
The beveled scroll is one of the most challenging scroll finials to master and it’s one of the requirements for Level II and Level III. Mastering this scroll will open up lots of possibilities and greatly improve your smithing capabilities. Jake Trodgen will show you how it’s done!
Tools you might wish to bring: 1/4″ x 3/4″ box jaw tongs, hot cut chisel, cross peen hammer, rounding hammer
Sat. Nov. 14, 9am-12pm: Level I – Gate Latch – Jake Trodgen
Forging the Level I gate latch is trickier than you might think. Jake Trodgen will walk you through how to approach the forge weld, forging to dimension, and getting the bends in the right place. Tools you might wish to bring: tongs to hold 3/8″ round bar, center punch, hot cut chisel, flux spoon, ruler, cross peen hammer, ball peen hammer.
Sat. Nov. 14, 2pm-5pm: Level II – Ha’Penny Scroll – Victoria Ritter
The Level II ha’penny scroll features a distinctive flattened coin-like “penny” at the end of a tapered scroll. There’s a bit of a trick to getting this right and Victoria Ritter will show you how. Tools you might wish to bring: 1/4″ x 3/4″ box jaw tongs, hot cut chisel.
We will have tools on hand, however, it is helpful to bring the basics such as safety glasses and ear protection, a pencil and notebook to take notes, your hammers (cross peen, rounding hammer, ball peen hammer), ruler, chalk or silver pencil, wire brush, gloves, center punch, hot cut chisel, 3/8″ and 3/4″ tongs, hot rasp/ files and project specific items listed in the above project descriptions.