2016 July PASO Magazine

By Judy Bedell
Head over to the Livestock Pavilion on Thursday,
July 21st at 1:30pm for the 2016 Airgas Industrial
Arts Auction held at the California Mid-State Fair. This
unique event showcases the talents of local youth
enrolled in high school Industrial Arts programs
throughout the county.
There is something for everyone and if you are in
the market for a unique, handcrafted, made in San Luis
Obispo County project, this is the place to be.
In addition to the traditional barbecues and picnic
tables, the students have been getting very creative
these past few years creating fountains, gun cabinets,
doghouses and even windmills. Perhaps you are
looking for a wine display rack or a teeter-totter for
the kids. Garden art and one-of-a–kind metal sculptures
can also be found.
Event organizer and sponsor Blake Wallis of Airgas
continues to be pleased with the creativity and craftsmanship
he sees in the entries.
“I see the projects getting more and more creative.
I like to see the kids thinking out of the box. The auction
isn’t just about barbecues and tables. When I look
around before the auction begins and I see potential customers
talking to the students about their projects and
the techniques and materials they used that is a great
feeling. That’s what this auction is all about,” said Wallis.
Wallis has been organizing and supporting the Industrial
Arts Auction for over 20 years.
“To look at a young student when a bidding war starts
and it is not grandma and grandpa bidding, it is priceless.
And now I am starting to see kids of the first kids
I worked with. It is all very rewarding and great way to
support these programs. We have to keep these programs
in our schools because if we don’t, once they are
gone, they won’t be back.”
Sponsors and judges award a Gordon Hayes belt
buckle to the creator of the top project each year. The
belt buckle award, donated by Mike and Suzie Leprino
is a coveted prize and one that students work hard to
earn each year.
For the students, the project begins months earlier
when they begin working on getting materials,
finding or creating working plans and then the actual
building of the piece.
“John and Buzz Jamrog have been very supportive
of the projects too. They will work with a student to get
them the materials they need, and the student can pay
them back after the auction,” added Wallis.
There is no charge to attend the event and if you see a
project you want to bid on, simply register for a bidding
number before the auction begins and get ready to
have some fun. Projects remain on display throughout
the Fair in a new location, right behind the Horse Show
Arena bleachers. Stop by and check out the incredible
work students in our county are doing in the area of
Industrial Arts.
Wallis can be contacted for additional information
at Airgas, 2131 Golden Hill Road, Paso Robles, phone
237-4007.
Student designed and created projects in metal
and wood will be offered up to the highest bidder
at this year’s Airgas Industrial Arts Auction on
Thursday, July 21 at 1:30pm at the California
Mid-State Fair Livestock Pavilion.
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July 2016, PASO Magazine 27