“Most of the people I met here way back when I started coming are gone now. But it’s interesting to come back and see some people here,” Herman said Saturday at Turner Hall.

He displayed a variety of items at the show including hand-made trunks, candle lanterns and small boxes made of Ponderosa Pine wood.

“Some people here buy things and bring them here to sell. I made everything myself,” Herman said. “I’ve got my own sawmill. I can make everything from scratch.”

A retired Rapid City, S.D. firefighter, Herman said he enjoys making items from Ponderosa Pine and juniper wood at his rural home.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch John Fritsche of New Ulm sells a number of items including bee’s wax candles and bars, journals, flint, steel and other gun accessories at the 39th Annual New Ulm Trade Fair and Living History Event at Turner Hall.

“After this weekend, I need to get back into the pine woods where I enjoy it. I don’t have to talk to lawyers and insurance agents,” Herman said. “At home, my neighbors are deer, mountain lions, foxes, coyotes, squirrels and coons. If I don’t see or hear them in person, I take pictures of them with a trail camera.”

Just behind Herman, Takara Olson of Nicollet displayed a number of natural skin care items including “skin salve” and “lip love” she said she made from homegrown ingredients.

“I’m a Herb wife (the alchemy of living soil and organic plant matter to create medicine), blacksmith and artist,” Olson said.

Her products include face moisturizers, sore muscle rubs, bath bombs and diaper rash ointment.

Olson also created a variety of art including costumes, drawings, jewelry, masks and many custom orders.

“I began teaching school groups the value and medicinal power of herbs a few years ago,” Olson said. “Most of my program focuses on common plants you can find in your yard, kitchen or on a walk in the woods in Minnesota. I orientate my presentations around the ages of my participants. They have the opportunity to be involved in a hands-on learning experience.”

After playing in her father’s blacksmith shop at age 8, she now provides classes and custom orders.

New Ulm Battery First Lieutenant John Fritsche displayed a variety of items including bee’s wax candles and bars, gun cleaning accessories, flints, stone points, flash guards and other items.

The show also featured many hard and soft-bound books, elk skin and other hides, knives, antique clothing and other things.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.