Indiana Army National Guard Learns Blacksmithing for Deployment to Afghanistan

A group of Soldiers from the Indiana Army National Guard are attending a one-week long course for blacksmiths. The intent is to teach them skills that were used over a century ago by farmers to make agricultural tools. Once in Afghanistan they can help Afghan farmers set up village blacksmith shops that can make agricultural tools.  There is lots of scrap metal in Afghanistan as a result of thirty years of war.  Some of this scrap metal can be turned into tools that are useful for agriculture such as hammers, shovels, picks, chains, prongs, and plows.  The one-week long blacksmith course is being taught at the Conner Prairie Interactive History Park in Indiana. The park is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute.  See www.connerprairie.org.  See the news article at "Soldiers Study at Conner Prairie For Afghanistan Assignment", Indiana News TV6 ABC, February 15, 2012.