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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Victor welding studio turns rock, metal into art
VICTOR — RS Welding Studio has gained a reputation across the country for its unique metal creations. Satisfying customers and keeping up with changing markets has kept the art manufacturer in business for 25 years.
“I used to have a store in town,” said Randy Schnebbe from his shop on B Avenue southeast of Victor. Called Amish Creations, the store sold furniture made by the Amish.
When other businesses began selling Amish furniture, Randy knew it was time to diversify, he said. He and his wife, A.J., began selling Amish lawn furniture at lawn and garden shows.
Randy noticed that people were selling Mexican-made iron yard art, and it was selling well. “And so we started doing that,” Randy said.
But the quality wasn’t very good. Randy met Ben Haddox, of Oklahoma, at a show, and Haddox said he could make the metal art better. “He decided he’d make it for us, and we’d sell it in Iowa,” said Randy.
Haddox taught Randy how to make the iron yard art himself. “I’d go down to visit him while my wife was visiting her parents,” said Randy. Haddox lived only about 30 minutes away.
Randy started with rock ants, made of Colorado River rock and metal rods. “I’d make one, and he’d make one.” They’d get together and see what they liked and disliked and how they could change the product.
“A lot of times he’d make the smaller ones, and I’d make the bigger one,” Randy said. Haddox made larger quantities, and that gave Randy time to build up his facility and his building.
Randy made the jigs necessary to make the art. “We eventually started doing everything here,” said Randy.
“We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him.”
The largest ant Randy ever made was 900 pounds, he said. It’s at Noelridge Park in Cedar Rapids.
“The Des Moines Farmers Market has been huge for us. We’ve been doing it since 2000,” Randy said.
“After 2020, the market wanted to reduce their numbers and informed us by email that they were taking away art,” said A.J. “We decided to start holding markets on our farm.”
The Des Moines Market is accepting art again, but Randy and A.J. go there only a couple of times a year. They sell their metal art at the Cedar Rapids market every week. They set up at craft shows in Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois, and they sell at their store just off I-80 at exit 205.
The Schnebbes have met a lot of people at the Des Moines farmers market. One man works in the Pentagon and commissioned a piece with two eagles looking at each other. He gave the piece to his commanding officer. “So that was kind of nice,” said Randy. “We’ve got a piece hanging in the Pentagon.”
Iowa’s senators and representatives have small windmills from RS Welding in their offices in Washington, D. C. The Polk County Master Gardeners have commissioned pieces for the Iowa State Fairgrounds. RS Welding has about five pieces on the fairgrounds, Randy said.
“We sold to people on RAGBRAI,” said Randy, and the cyclists took the items home with them, all over the world — Belgium, Japan, South America.
“They say there are not a lot of authentic souvenirs on the route,” said A.J. The RS Welding metal art shows a bicycle nestled inside an outline of the State of Iowa — a souvenir about Iowa, created by Iowans.
One of Randy’s favorite projects was The Legacy Tree, which stands nearly 10 feet tall. It was commissioned by the employees of Metalcraft of Mayville for the owner. “It took me nine months to build,” said Randy.
Each leaf on the tree has a description of the owners cut into it. Randy was touched by the loving words used by the employees to describe the owners.
“We were both able to take it up there” to the new office facility, said Randy.
RS Welding created the large wine bottle that stands outside Fireside Winery and the cross at the Methodist Church in Williamsburg.
The Schnebbes hosted their first Market on the Farm in early 2022. “It was just huge,” said Randy. About 35 vendors and a couple of food trucks welcomed customers that first year.
“And it’s just been growing,” Randy said.
This year RS Welding will host only two markets. Homegrown Grace Market on the Farm will take place June 22 and Sept. 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“This first show we’re close to 55-58 vendors,” Randy said.
The Schnebbes are adding Homegrown Kids this year and have about 15 children signed up to sell their own products. They’ll have their own little booths and will learn how to talk to customers and how to count money back, Randy said.
The market is expensive to put on — about $3,500, said Randy. “We’ve had other local businesses that have helped chip in.”
Some friends from south of Des Moines donated $1,000. “They said they just love what we’re doing out here,” said Randy.
Three women join Randy in creating metal art for RS Welding. Emily Riedel has been with RS Welding for 10 years; Haley Voigtman for nine years. Both are self-taught welders.
Kenna Paxson has been with the company about a year and has a welding certificate.
This year they’re making the Garage Garden Gadgets line. They create art out of what most people would consider junk — pieces of old farm equipment.
“These three come up with all the oddball creations,” Randy said — a Nativity scene made of railroad spikes, a hammerhead shark made of chains, a turtle made of pipes and a mouse made of gears and circular saw blades.
RS Welding has to come up with new things all the time, Randy said. Some people collect their art, and they want the newest thing.
RS Welding Studio is easy to find. Take exit 205 off Interstate 80, turn north and look for the large dirt hill crawling with giant ants in the shadow of a huge metal spider.
