Jutta Wilberding

About this Nominee

No one becomes an entrepreneur because it's easy. You become one because you have a passion. And although becoming a blacksmith and teaching classes in a forge was never a childhood dream, after meeting my husband, Jon Reeves, Combat Ready Art became my passion, just as it was his. He was the face of the business for decades. When I joined, I ran the "office stuff". Together, with both of us teaching, we grew the business exponentially over the last 7 years. Students became family, and we welcomed thousands of people a year to learn blacksmithing, knife making, and metal art--men, women, children (over 9), people from all of the country.
At the end of 2023, Jon was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer, glioblastoma. 2024 became all about survival, literally and figuratively. While caring for him, I maintained the business. Any business owner knows, you have to keep the momentum going. But I also knew that there would be an "after". With help, I was able to maintain the forge during the hardest time of my life. My husband, and founder if Combat Ready Art, passed away in December 2024.
In 2025, Combat Ready Art and the students who come for class have been my refuge, and has become an even greater passion.

Many people who come have never used tools before. Individuals, couples, family reunions, teambuilding, bachelor/bachelorette parties, homeschoolers, and forced family fun, have all come to learn something new. And its my honor to teach them, continuing the long history of blacksmithing, and continuing the legacy.