Local Cameron man holds Living Skills Festival

Matt Burnett, owner and lead instructor of The Missouri School of Blacksmithing hosted a “Living Skills Festival” held on Saturday, June 1st. The Living Skills Festival included a contest for Blacksmiths, allowing those who participated to practice their skills and display their work.  First place prizes were offered for three skill levels; Beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

Burnett opened up The Missouri School of Blacksmithing in 2016, and the journey onward has been very successful. Burnett says, “Even after 20 years of doing this, I still get excited when I see the coals start to dance in the air, the flames shooting up through the hot coals, and watching the glow of the fire.” He started his interest in Blacksmithing at the early age of 13 and was immediately intrigued in it. This was the first step to a long, interesting. and successful journey. Eventually, Matt saw a need for quality instruction and blacksmithing in the Missouri area, and started collecting materials and tools.  He decided to open his business shortly after. In 2003, Burnett joined the Blacksmith Association of Missouri, later receiving one of the Blacksmithing Association of Missouri’s highest honors, The Bob Patrick Award. This award motivated him to give back to the community by teaching, and demonstrating his knowledge to those who are willing to participate in his classes. Burnett has also taken classes at the Ozark School of Blacksmithing, and the New England School of Metalwork, and in 2022 received another award, the National Level 2 Instructor Certification with ABANA.

Matt does demonstrations in his classes, he has multiple items he has made in the past and items his students have also made. The students take most of the things they make home. Matt has forged multiple items, that went from a single block of steel to knives, spoons, forks, hooks, axes, and more. He also demonstrated making a few nails and saved them to use for future projects. When asked about the tools in his shop, he explains that some of the tools in his shop are made by himself and he uses them often.

Matt spends his time teaching and doing what he loves, occasionally holding contests, and different levels of classes. “I try to approach my classes and teaching from a perspective of what I would have liked to learn as a student. Mastering blacksmithing, and other skills is a continuing process of learning and discovery. I enjoy the journey and look forward to more explorations,” he says.

For more information on how to get involved, find more details at http://www.mo-schools.com.