Rock show fun
Rock vendors from across the region descend on the Malheur County Fairgrounds

By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Sunday, June 22, 2008 5:59 AM PDT

Richard Eddy, a dealer in opals from the Eugene area, talks about his display Friday, the first day of the Northwest Federation of Mineralogical Society’s 2008 show going on through today at the Malheur County Fairgrounds in Ontario.

ONTARIO  - People interested in geology, gems, semi-precious stones or those who just enjoy picking up rocks still have an opportunity today to visit the rock and gem show at the Malheur County Fairgrounds in Ontario.

The show kicked off Friday, opened again today at 10 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m., featuring 72 dealers from around the Intermountain West.

The three-day event is the annual show of the Northwest Federation of Mineralogical Society, which includes 75 clubs from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Utah, and this is the first time the federation show has been held in Eastern Oregon in 47 years, Margaret Stallknecht, show chairman, said. The federation show is rotated among member clubs. The event is usually held in Boise, she said

Richard Eddy, who is from Cheshire near Eugene, is a full-time dealer and showed off his display Friday.

“That’s all I do is talk rocks,” he said.

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A contract tree planter for more than 30 years, Eddy said he decided he wanted something easier as he got older. He said he always liked rocks, and after buying some rough opals, he sanded them and decided it was his mission to supply opals to people.

“I got some machinery and upped my production,” Eddy said. “I do federation shows.”  

Most of his opals come from Australia, Mexico and Ethiopia, Eddy said.

“I buy them from the miners,” Eddy said.

 Eddy is one of the dealers set up in the fairgrounds’ Red Barn.

Stallknecht is one of the rock vendors in the fairgrounds commercial building, which also has a number of displays of different rocks that people can enjoy and serves as the show’s headquarters.  

Stallknecht also has hosted some of the programs presented during the show. A number of dealers are also set up around the fairgrounds.

Besides visiting the vendors, federation members took field trips to Succor Creek, Twin Springs and other areas in the region to find thundereggs, jasper and leaf fossils.

Another dealer is Mike Maki, of Maki’s Gems in Helena Mont., and he also has foreign as well as domestic rocks. Several of his most delicate pieces come from Brazil.

“I buy a lot from dealers and on e-Bay,” he said.

One of the more interesting items in the show is Royal Sahara Jasper, offered by Rocky McCall, Marysville, Wash., who just prefers to be identified as Rocky, “The man in the red hat.”

Rocky said he is only one of three dealers, besides the owner of the mine in Africa’s Sahara Desert, allowed to sell the jasper and the Ontario show is the first time he has displayed it. He has it available in rough and finished pieces.

Besides the rocks and jewelry, there are booths that offer equipment and supplies for people who work rocks, plus books and other informational materials.