Students start woodburning business

PRESCOTT – At the monthly Prescott American Legion meeting, members were surprised with three young guests who came bearing gifts. Jackson Matzek, Zachary Matzek, and Gavin Miller, eighth graders at Prescott Middle School, presented the Legion with eight wooden burned pieces which they completed themselves. Two signs were made for the Legion entry and bar. The other six were emblems which represent the divisions of the United States Armed Forces: U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard, Coast Guard, and Space Force. Their goal was to not only thank local veterans for their service, but to also gain recognition in their entrepreneurship plans of starting their own wood working business, Wilderness Workshop.

Since sixth grade, the boys have been fine tuning their wood burning skills on large broken- down branches they find in the woods. They cut them down to coaster size, sand, burn, and seal them. After becoming proficient in the art of wood burning, they set off to burn as many coasters as they could, selling them to family, friends, and neighbors, and at a booth during Prescott Daze. After they sold out, they began to experiment on larger pieces like wooden plates and 4×6 inch planks.

“We were starting to get really good at it (wood burning) and making some really cool pieces, but we just need to get the word out,” said Miller.

“My family and I had the chicken dinner at the Legion and on the wall were these four plates with these symbols on them. When I learned about what they were, and how they were missing the two newest divisions of the Armed Forces (Coast Guard and Space Force), well the idea just came to me,” said Jackson Matzek.

Zachary Matzek chimed in: “Yeah, the three of us play baseball and will be playing on the American Legion team next year. It was a good opportunity for us to thank our veterans, promote our work, and represent the baseball team they sponsor.”

The American Legion is now setting out to creatively display this gift at the Legion Hall.

“It was really an honor to accept these boys’ artwork,” said Commander Jerry Klasen. “They are talented kids and were very well spoken in their presentation.”

The Legion presented the boys with a $100 check for their baseball season.

More work and ordering can be found at https://mandy921.wixsite.com/wildernessadventures. The American Legion is also serving their famous chicken dinners on the first Saturday of every month (September through June). Both drive-thru and dine-in options are available.

In addition, the Legion is also actively seeking new membership. Contact Membership Chair Al Behrendt at 612-366-4098.

Submitted by Mandy Matzek