Vendors and attendees from across the midwest came to New Ulm for the 43rd annual New Ulm Trade Fair and Living History event. The event seeks to capture elements of the fur trading and pioneer days of Minnesota, embracing the old ways. The show was originally called a black powder trade show and created to emphasize antique firearms.

The event has now ballooned to include limited edition medallions, beads, knives, swords, wooden tools and implements, clothing, candles, books, shooting supplies, blankets, and U.S. flags among other items.

Organizer Mike Emery said Saturday was a well-attended day for the event. While Sunday had fewer people, this is pretty typical as it is the second day and they have shorter hours. Overall he found vendors and attendees alike enjoyed what was offered.

“I think they’ve had a good time,” Emery said. “It’s always a blessing when the weather cooperates with us. They enjoy coming here, seeing folks, and socializing.”

Attendees peruse and discuss items with vendors during the New Ulm Trade Fair and Living History event Sunday. There were 60 vendors at the show, occupying around 110 tables.

This warm reception was evident in the number of vendors. Emery said 60 vendors came to this year’s event, occupying around 110 tables. This was an increase from 2023 when there were around 50 vendors and 100 tables used.

One of these vendors was Mike Hoffmann, a blacksmith from Clear Lake. Hoffmann custom makes hatchets, knives, and an assortment of leather and fur goods. He said he originally was a machinist but got into blacksmithing after hearing about it through the grapevine.

“I heard about a neighbor that was doing blacksmithing,” Hoffmann said. “I went to meet him and we got to be friends and started doing these shows together. For 17 years we did it as a business traveling around and just built from there. Now I teach classes and I went to private work for myself.”

The New Ulm show holds a very important meaning for traveling living history vendors like Hoffman. He said it serves as a tune-up meet and a chance to talk to others before the season gets into full swing.

“This is kind of our start of the year,” Hoffmann said. “Everybody that does shows during the summer brings flyers in here. We collect flyers, trade them amongst each other and we get prepared.”

Woodworker Roger Pilsner holds a 21-pound slab of beeswax available for sale at his station during the New Ulm Trade Fair and Living History event Sunday. Pilsner said 100% pure beeswax has over 50 applications, including to lubricate stuck zippers and as a sealant.

With the time period featured getting further and further away, and fewer young people invested in the fur and trade period, some vendors worry about the future of events like New Ulm’s Trade Fair and Living History. Hoffmann is among those concerned.

“Yes, very much so,” he said. “That’s what we’re really trying to do, so people can understand what it’s about. When we’re out and about, they see us dressed this way and think we’re dressed funny. The funny thing is a lot of times when people come in and see it they want to be a part of it.”

Others are not as troubled by this prospect. Roger Pilsner, who is known in living history circles by the nickname “Blackie”, specializes in wool items, woodworking, and hand tools. He also offered 100% pure beeswax, both in small cubes and from a 21-pound chunk.

While he believes non-juried events like New Ulm’s are dying, juried events are thriving amongst young people. Pilsner said juried shows require everything presented to be really high quality and period accurate, while non-juried events do not have these requirements. Juried shows also often have demonstrations and opportunities for learning.

“I can go to a juried event and find more young people than people my age,” Pilsner said. “Because in a juried event, we spend more effort teaching, training, and educating people. We give the younger people an opportunity to make something, and they have self-worth when they learn how to make. In an event like this, we do nothing to promote the young people.”

Brent Wilson showcases one strand out of many beads showcased at the New Ulm Trade Fair and Living History event Sunday. He said that strand in particular were Roman Egyptian beads from 2,000 years ago.

Pilsner said he first attended around 20 years ago. As someone who values quality over quantity and monetary gain, he emphasized this as a reason he’s continued to come.

“Most of them are based on money,” Pilsner said. “Unfortunately, as soon as money becomes the primary motivator, quality goes out the window. The other one would be events based on quality. Money is now your secondary motivator. Quality will always survive quantity, quality will always survive the economy. I’m going to keep myself positioned in the quality realm.”