Ron Poast of Black Earth, Wisconsin is one of the few Luthiers in America specializing in the hardingfele (Norwegian fiddle). Born with the gift of creative hands, his Norwegian heritage and interest in music eventually led him to build his own quality instruments.  A Luthier for over 30 years, he has also taught apprentices the fine art of carving, engraving, and working in fine detail. He has well over 500 hand-crafted instruments all over the states and abroad. Several of the fiddles he has made have been on Wisconsin art tours at museums throughout the state.

    Poast’s crafting of the hardingfele has been featured on television specials, including the video “De Som Dro Vest” and in various newspapers in Wisconsin and Norway, including the Norway Times. One of his Hardanger fiddles was selected by jury panel for photo reproduction on the cover of the State of Wisconsin telephone directory for 1992-93. He was nominated in 1992 by the Governor of Wisconsin, Tommy Thompson, for the National Living Treasure of the United States Award, which is an award given to honor American craftsmanship. Also in 1992, Ron was inducted into the Wisconsin State Strings Museum Hall of Fame as Master Luthier of the Year. As a member of the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America, Poast has also shared his talents by teaching fiddle construction for many years.

    Poast took part in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival at the nation’s capitol, Washington, D.C. in the summer of 1998, displaying his work to the thousands who converged on the National Mall. Later that summer the festival was brought to Wisconsin to share with local residents at the Wisconsin Folklife Festival. One of his fiddles was featured on the promotional poster for both the Washington and Wisconsin Festivals, as well as on the cover for the Washington souvenir book.

    In June of 2000, Ron was invited to display his fiddles in Wisconsin’s sister state Chiba, Japan, for the Chiba prefecture People’s Festival as part of a Wisconsin-Chiba cultural exchange. He currently participates in heritage events around the state.

    In September of 2003 the Poast family, complete with children and grandchildren, traveled together to Washington, D.C. where Ron received the National Heritage Fellowship Award from the National Endowment for the Arts. This prestigious award is presented to honorees chosen for their artistic excellence, authenticity, and contributions to their field.

    A handmade hardanger fiddle was presented to each of Ron’s five children for Christmas 2005.

    In October of 2008, Ron was one of three American Fiddle Masters honored commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Program. This took place at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison, WI with an evening of Irish, Cajun and old-time fiddle music.

    Poast is owner of Poastmark String Instruments in Black Earth where he continues to handcraft the hardingfele along with other string instruments including the guitar, banjo, mandolin, harp, lyre,

flat fiddle and dulcimer. He also offers repair and restoration of hardanger fiddles and other string instruments.