When Boulder City, Nevada, amateur woodworker Bruce Kuveke received a call telling him he was the Grand Prize winner in Woodcraft’s “Build It! with Jory and John Sweepstakes,” he nearly said he wasn’t interested in whatever they were selling. Andrew Bondi, director of multi-channel sales for the national woodworking retailer, telephoned Bruce to inform him that his name was selected from more than 26,000 eligible entries. The $10,000 Grand Prize package includes a three-day woodworking class taught by West Coast furnituremaker Jory Brigham and East Coast builder John Malecki, travel, lodging, $500 spending money and a $3,149 SawStop Professional Saw. The contest was sponsored by Woodcraft in partnership with Jory Brigham Design and SawStop.
Bruce Kuveke, Boulder City, Nevada, was randomly selected as the Grand Prize winner in the “Build It! with Jory & John Sweepstakes” sponsored by Woodcraft.
“I was floored and at first I was wondering if it was some sort of scam,” Bruce reported. “But I’m very glad I took the time to listen.”
Contest entries were received from March 1 to April 30 in Woodcraft stores nationwide, online at woodcraft.com or via mail-in. Bruce’s name was randomly selected from 26,240 eligible entries. Winners were contacted in May.
READY FOR A CHALLENGE
Most of Bruce’s woodworking experience is “rough carpentry,” as he calls it. Retired after 21 years in the US Air Force and another 22 years with the US Postal Service, Bruce built a 3,200-square-foot cabin in the mountains of central Utah. He has also made several dovetailed boxes for his target shooting supplies.
That woodworking knowledge will go a long way to ensuring a successful build at the woodworking group class he will attend this fall at Brigham Design Workshop and Training Center in Paso Robles, California. Bruce and his guest, a friend from Riverside, California, will learn a variety of furniture building skills to create their own custom wood and metal benches. Cleveland metal fabricator Jason Radcliffe from 44 STEEL will join Brigham and Malecki to instruct the TIG welding portion of the class.
Bruce has just the spot in mind for his new bench. “We have a small entryway at our house where the bench will come into good use for putting on and removing shoes,” he said. The SawStop will replace an older table saw he currently uses in his workshop, which is a 16' x 28' converted garage at his Utah cabin.
“I am greatly honored and lucky to be able to attend to attend this class,” Bruce shared. He hopes to refine his woodworking skills to be able to make fine furniture. “I have a rocking chair that my dad made and it is one of my most prized possessions. I would love to have the ability to make something similar that will bring memories of me to my children.”
OTHER WINNERS
Several other winners were announced at the conclusion of the sweepstakes, including Matt Sams from Tucson, Arizona, who won the 2nd Prize, a WoodRiver Ultimate Bench Plane Kit, valued at $579.99. A surprised Matt exclaimed, “My smile is gigantic right now!”
Tucson, Arizona, resident Matt Sams, shown here, was selected as the 2nd Prize winner, receiving a WoodRiver Ultimate Bench Plane Kit. “They are terrific!” he said.
Twenty 3rd Prize winners received $50 Woodcraft Gift Cards: Tyler Aldrich, Springfield, Oregon; Brian Amacher, Pierson, Michigan; James Askew, Madison, Mississippi; William Barnes, Fayetteville, Arkansas; Troy Campbell, St. Petersburg, Florida; George Caulker, Stone Mountain, Georgia; Gorkem Cilam, Easthampton, Massachusetts; Jim Dunn, Huntsville, Alabama; George Flowers, Memphis, Tennessee; Austin Hoops, Vincennes, Indiana; Daniel Joseph, Colchester, Connecticut; Gerald Lew, Hacienda Heights, California; Adam McCluskey, St. Louis, Missouri; Lisa Ormsby, Fulton, New York; Thomas Pickens, Parkersburg, West Virginia; Rick Redfield, Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin; Lynda Steely, Lakeport, California; Corey Swanson, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Bryan Thompson, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey; and Gary Wieck, Dumas, Texas.
Thompson said he is looking forward to checking out his local Woodcraft store to spend his gift card.
TO BE CONTINUED
Stay tuned for a follow-up story after Bruce and his buddy complete the course in October 2019.
Gigi Branch, a high school nurse from San Antonio, Texas, attended a similar class in 2017 after winning “The Jory Brigham Experience.” Read her story here: Sweepstakes Winner Attends Jory Brigham Workshop.
To learn more about the workshop instructors Brigham, Malecki and Radcliffe, check out this previous Woodworking Adventures Blog: Here's Your Chance to Build It! with Jory & John.
We hope you’ll be inspired!
