An artist by nature, Rita Thurman, who runs Pixie Smash Forge, went in head-first when she first picked up metal work less than five years ago. Formerly a production artist for Hallmark Cards for 25 years, Rita took her newfound passion for welding to a new level after being selected for the reality TV series on the History Channel called 'Forged in Fire.'

Thurman trained for a month with the welding equipment at her stepfather's shop at 435 N Northwest St in Winamac before being flown to Connecticut for the show. Rita was told she was 'out of her league', but being unafraid to suck at something new was Rita's biggest weapon when it came to succeeding on the show.

She would eventually go on to become the third woman to ever win the show.

The final episodes were filmed at her home forge in Winamac, where she completed the challenge of making a Japanese Samuri arresting weapon. 

Seeing the win as a form of destiny, she followed it. Rita soon retired from Hallmark and now goes back and forth between Kansas City and Winamac with her business Pixie Smash Forge. She quickly found out a lot of people are in need of metalworkers. 

Keeping herself busy, Rita offers everything from metal fabrication, knife making, blacksmithing, forging classes, art and oddities. A merit badge counselor and Boyscout Troop Leader, Rita also offers merit badges for welding, metal and leatherwork to any interested scouts in the area.