With nearly two days of my first International Woodworking Fair behind me, I've met two celebrities and seen countless pieces of new machinery. It's been a blast, and I've been surprised at the number of people I've met during my short time in the industry.

Interviewing Laurie Smith, from the TV show Trading Spaces, about the sustainable and aesthetic values of oak.

Before I get to the machinery I'd like to do some name dropping. Wednesday I met Laurie Smith, an interior designer from the TV show Trading Spaces, who was at the show representing Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc.'s new oak campaign. She said the sustainability aspects of the wood and its aesthetic values have caused her to use the wood in her designs. Blonder woods, such as white oak, compliment the mid-century design trend, she said.

I also got to hear Jim Craig, the goalie from the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team that defeated the formerly unbeatable Soviet "Red Army" team during the height of the Cold war, speak about his experiences at the Jet - Powermatic booth. He talked about everything from growing up in Boston to his role in the Miracle on Ice.

I saw the 2008 IWF Challengers Award presentation and saw 20 impressive innovations in woodworking technology (the finalists) that were whittled down to seven winners.

Winners included: DUX Area Inc.'s Advanced Laminar Airflow Technology for spray guns; DV-Systems / Delle Vedove USA Inc.'s UV-X Finishing System; FS Tool Corp. / FS Cruing's Aerotech System for dust free nesting extraction; Giben International's Zero Active Drive Beam Saw; NAP GLADU's Next G Series Diamond & Carbide Inserts Cutting Tool; Super Thin Saws‚ UltraCem-Coated Blades; and WoodEye/Innovative Vision AB's Automatic NHLA Grading of Hardwoods.

Check back tomorrow, when I'll be running around the floor talking to the award winners about their products and how they'll help woodworkers improve quality, craftsmanship and efficiency.