Young man teaches old-world craft

Atlanta’s own Noah Hickman will show you how to blacksmith

By STU CLAMPITT
news@readthereporter.com

The 43rd annual Indiana Blacksmithing Association (IBA) Conference is coming to the Tipton County Fairgrounds, 1200 S. Main St., Tipton, June 6 to 8, and Friday night’s featured demonstrator is Noah Hickman from Atlanta, Ind. Before you skip along to the next story because modern attention spans are only six seconds long, take note:

Noah is 12 years old.

Noah Hickman

The Reporter spoke to Noah and his father, Kevin Hickman, about Noah’s blacksmithing journey and how he became the youngest IBA rookie blacksmith of the year in 2024, thus securing his spot as one of this year’s featured demonstrators.

“Noah wanted to start blacksmithing when he was about six years old, and I kind of dismissed it as a ‘little kids get funny ideas’ kind of thing,” Kevin Hickman told The Reporter. “I grew up in a blacksmith shop, but in my adult life I did not pursue it. I worked with metal, but I did not actively blacksmith. But apparently, it’s genetic, and it fell right into his system because we started when he was about eight.”

Kevin told Noah he would support his son at his level of interest and investment in this craft. They built a small shop at home and Kevin said Noah could have whatever equipment he wanted if he paid 20 percent of the cost on his own.

“If he wants a piece of equipment or new type of tooling for some of the equipment that have, he’ll come to me with 20 percent of the money up front and say, ‘Dad, we’re going to go buy this thing,’” Kevin said. “I’ll say, ‘All right, man, let’s go buy it.’”

Noah raises his money by selling items he makes at the forge, and his perspective on that is quite pragmatic.

“If I have stuff from past interests, I will sell that, or I will forge things and sell those,” Noah said. “My mom has a Facebook page she posts pictures on like, ‘Hey, if you want to buy things, you can.’ And I think she’s starting an Etsy shop.”

Photo provided

Noah has learned from some of the premiere blacksmiths in the world.

“We’ve been super fortunate,” Kevin said. “We could not have hooked into a better group of blacksmiths. Noah has the distinct honor of being able to work with world-class blacksmiths all over the country. Guys have invited Noah into their shop to let him use their equipment and teach him their knowledge. People come from all over the world to learn from the guys that we get to learn from.”

Noah works on his craft every week, and daily when he can.

“No matter what, I spend three hours at it on Thursdays every week,” Noah said. “I usually spend about nine hours on Saturdays at hammer-ins, and then I spend three to five hours every night when I can.”

That level of dedication is part of what landed Noah the IBA rookie blacksmith of the year award in 2024.

“He’s the youngest person to ever do it,” Kevin said. “It’s not a kid’s award. It typically goes to grown men. There’s some pretty specific criteria that have to be met that kids don’t typically qualify for. You’ve got to be in your first three years of blacksmithing. You have to be involved in community outreach and education, and be an active member in good standing with the IBA.”

Photo provided

If you attend the 43rd annual IBA Conference in Tipton on the evening of June 6, Noah will demonstrate how to make a fireplace poker using five basic blacksmithing skills.

He already has experience teaching his chosen craft to others.

“Noah helps teach a beginner’s class during the winter,” Kevin said. “For blacksmiths who are just starting out, he’s a really great teacher because he is a small child – a young man – telling you what to do. While that’s hard for some people to accept, it’s also really great for a lot of people because they think, ‘well, if a kid can do it, I can do it.’”

Noah Hickman seems to have an old soul. When asked what he enjoyed about blacksmithing, his answer showed maturity beyond his years.

“I just really like that feeling where I step into a blacksmith shop and it just feels like home,” Noah said. “It’s like you walk into your house after a long day of work and you see your family. I get that feeling when I walk into a blacksmith shop.”

Kevin Hickman’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/kevin.hickman.90, has pictures and videos of Noah blacksmithing.

Whether you are a craftsman, curious to learn, or someone who just wants to watch, you will be welcome June 6 to 8 in Tipton. Conference details and registration forms are available online at IndianaBlacksmithing.org/iba-conference-2025.

If a 12-year-old can do it . . .

Photos provided