August 2026 Volume 8

FOUNDATION NEWS

FORGING THE FUTURE STARTS EARLY FIERF is Helping the Next Generation See Themselves in Manufacturing

A sk a young student what they want to be when they grow up, and you will likely hear familiar answers: doctor, teacher, athlete, engineer, firefighter, artist. Far less often will you hear “forge operator,” “metallurgist,” “die designer,” “manufacturing engineer,” or “quality technician.” That is not because the forging industry lacks exciting career paths. It is because many young people have never been introduced to them. For the North American forging industry,

FIERF’s kid-focused resources help close that awareness gap. The “Forging with Freddy” children’s book series was created to educate children about manufacturing and the forging process. The first two books, “Forging with Freddy” and “Forging with Freddy: Safety First,” introduce young readers to forging through colorful illustrations, approachable storytelling and characters designed to make the industry engaging for children. The books are available in print, and digital flipping books are available online, including English, French and Spanish resources.

that presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Workforce development cannot begin when a young person is already choosing a college major or searching for their first job. By then, many students have already formed assumptions about what manufacturing is — or what it is not. If the forging industry wants to build a strong future workforce, we must help students understand earlier that manufacturing is modern, technical, creative, essential and full of opportunity. That is where the Forging Industry Educational and Research Foundation (FIERF) plays an important role. Through children’s books, classroom activities, summer camps and other hands-on learning opportunities, FIERF is helping introduce the next generation to

For teachers, librarians and families, these books offer a simple but powerful starting point. They make it easier to begin conversations about manufacturing, safety, STEM and careers at an age when students are still exploring what is possible. FIERF also provides free downloadable forging activities, including a maze, word find and crossword puzzle. These worksheets can be paired with the “Forging with Freddy” books and hands-on activities to help parents and teachers promote STEM and manufacturing education in the classroom, at home or during community events. Forge the Future Summer Camps One of FIERF’s most immersive youth outreach programs is the Forge the Future Summer Camp. These camps introduce students to forging, manufacturing and STEAM pathways through

the world of forging in ways that are age-appropriate, memorable and fun. These resources give FIA members, educators, parents and community partners practical tools to tell the story of forging — not as an abstract industrial process, but as a career-connected, problem-solving, STEM-rich industry that shapes the world around us. Helping Kids Understand “What Is Forging?” Forging is not always visible to the general public. Forged components are often hidden inside the products and systems people rely on every day: vehicles, aircraft, ships, agricultural equipment, defense systems, medical devices, energy infrastructure and more. That invisibility can make it difficult for students to understand how important forging is to modern life.

62 FIA MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2026