What a whirlwind! In April, Linda and I traveled to Florence, Kentucky, for the 2026 Griswold & Cast Iron Cookware Association (G&CICA) annual cast iron convention, and what a wonderful time it was.
About the G&CICA
The Griswold & Cast Iron Cookware Association (G&CICA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of vintage and antique cast iron cookware. Its members include collectors, traders, sellers, historians, and people who simply appreciate the old iron and the stories behind it. Membership ranges from those just beginning their collecting journey to longtime enthusiasts with world-class collections (we’re looking at you, Marg and Larry O’Neil).1
One of the best parts of the G&CICA is the sense of community amongst the members. When I interview members, the common theme is the friendships made and knowledge gained. Members enjoy sharing knowledge, helping to identify pieces, buying and selling iron, and connecting with others who share the same passion.
The club hosts five in-person events each year in locations across the country, giving members plenty of opportunities to learn, socialize, and see (and buy, sell, or trade) some truly remarkable cast iron. The annual convention is held at different locations, typically in the Spring. The 2027 convention will be held in Nichols, New York on April 8-10, 2027. For more information, check out the “Events” tab on the group’s Facebook page. The other four meetings are chapter meets that are typically held in the fall, at different locations in the United States.
Annual dues are $30/individual, $40 family, and $10 student. Join here.
2026 Convention in Kentucky
Linda and I arrived in Florence for the cast iron convention on Tuesday afternoon, only to discover that some members had been there since Monday doing serious buying, selling, and trading. Registration didn’t even officially open until Thursday!
We spent Wednesday and Thursday interviewing three past G&CICA Presidents for upcoming collector spotlights in the G&CICA newsletter and on this blog. It was fascinating hearing their stories and collecting experiences, and memories from their years in the hobby.
Thursday
When registration opened on Thursday, Linda and I picked up our cast iron convention packets, which included the schedule of events and a cool commemorative aluminum skillet commissioned by Sonny McCarter, one of the convention hosts. Thursday evening featured a casual dinner where registrants gathered to reconnect, catch up, and talk iron with old and new friends.
We then set off to check out room sales.2 Somehow, I managed to escape with just one purchase from room sales: a sweet small unknown-maker cast iron trivet. That’s not to say I wasn’t tempted—there was iron everywhere!
Friday’s Activities
Past President Scott McCarter opened the convention on Friday to a standing-room-only crowd.
Table Topics
The first seminar was “Table Topics.” “Table Topics” give members the opportunity to do a deep dive into specific topics, and also see some rare and unusual pieces up close. This year’s displays did not disappoint.
The photos speak for themselves.
Meet the Collectors
After table topics, Scott McCarter introduced a new event for this year’s convention: “Meet the Collectors.” Scott invited three attendees from the audience to come to the front to share some of their experiences in the hobby, and it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and engaging sessions of the weekend. The three collectors (Sonny McCarter, Andrew Kost, and William Kupke) each brought a different perspective—one a longtime collector, another relatively new to the hobby, and the third primarily involved in buying and selling cast iron. Their stories highlighted the many different paths that bring people into the cast iron collecting community.
The seminar was well-received by registrants.
Show and Tell, aka “Stump the Experts”
One of the perennial highlights of the convention is “Show and Tell,” affectionately known as “Stump the Experts.” During the session, longtime collectors Brad Schwarting, Russ Howser, Gary Taylor (all past Presidents of the G&CICA), and Eric McAllister examined and discussed a variety of unusual pieces brought to the convention by members.
Collectors always enjoy trying to find items that might stump the experts, and the audience enjoys seeing the rare, odd, and sometimes mysterious pieces that members bring in from around the country.
Auction
Friday evening featured the annual auction, which is always a major event of the convention. 167+ lots crossed the auction block, with spirited bidding throughout the evening.
The top price realized was $3,400 for a milled-bottom No. 13 Griswold cast-iron skillet. No buyer’s premium was added to the hammer price.
Saturday
Swap Meet
Saturday morning brought the large swap meet—and oh, the iron! Tables stretched across the room, piled high with everything from common users to rare pieces. I made a quick pass through the room trying to snap a few photos while also deliberately averting my eyes in an effort to avoid making too many purchases. Of course, some Iron Mountain (by Griswold) pieces caught my attention—as they always do—and I ended up buying a chicken pan and two lids.
Additional events happened while I was off trying to organize my notes and photos–a lively skillet toss contest and the group’s business meeting.
Banquet
The banquet Saturday evening was, as always, one of the highlights of the convention weekend. Members gathered for dinner, raffles, awards, and plenty of laughter and conversation. Scott McCarter presented several awards during the evening, and President Josh Delp presented the President’s Award to immediate past President Art Chatfield in recognition of his service.
As always, the convention was about much more than cast iron. It was about friendships, shared knowledge, stories, laughter, and the excitement of seeing both familiar faces and incredible pieces of history brought together in one place. A tremendous amount of work goes into organizing an event of this size, and many thanks are due to the hosts, volunteers, presenters, and registrants who helped make the 2026 convention such a success.
Before we knew it, the weekend had come to a close and collectors were packing up their iron and heading home—already talking about next year. The next annual G&CICA convention will be held on April 8-10 in Nichols, New York. After this year’s outstanding event, many of us are already looking forward to making the trip. I know I am!
- The G&CICA West Coast chapter meet will be held in Tacoma Washington on September 9 and 10, 2026 at the O’Neil cast iron museum. This will be a great opportunity to see the massive collection of the O’Neils. To learn more about this event, check out the “Events” tab on the G&CICA’s very active Facebook page.
- Room sales apparently started on Monday. They continued throughout the convention, except for when official convention sessions were held.
