When Gage Horn and his family relocated from Alberton to Superior ahead of his freshman year, he didn’t just bring school supplies, he brought a business project.

Today, that plan has grown into Superior Burn Works, a thriving venture that reflects both creativity and determination well beyond his 17 years.

Horn’s parents, Roger and Melissa, say their son has always been driven, but even they have been surprised by how quickly his entrepreneurial spirit has taken shape. 

“He spends Saturdays researching and filling out scholarship applications,” Melissa shared, noting that hard work is simply part of his routine. 

Gage said that some of the interest he developed came from his grandfathers. 

“They’re really good at building most anything and with woodworking. Kind of like tinkering and making very cool things in the process.” 

The drive clearly runs in the family as his 13-year-old sister, McKayla, is already running a small poultry business, supplying eggs daily to local retailers.

That dedication recently paid off when Horn was named a recipient of the prestigious Gaylord Green Scholarship. 

“Gage is a very worthy recipient… he’s a bright young man with a bright future,” said Byron Quinlan, dean of students at Superior Elementary School. 

For Horn, the application process was an opportunity to showcase something he already knew well. 

“I spent a lot of time going through all of the articles for it,” he explained. “I liked doing the business plan since I already had the Superior Burn Works strategy that I built the application around.”

At the heart of his business is a unique art form known as Lichtenberg wood burning, which is a process that uses high-voltage electricity to create intricate, tree-like patterns in various types of wood. Working with a neon sign transformer generating up to 10,000 volts, Horn produces one-of-a-kind designs on everything from electric guitars to cribbage boards, coat racks, and even full dining tables. 

No two pieces are ever the same. 

“Duplication is impossible,” Horn said. “The electricity creates a different pattern every time.”

Some of his pieces are further enhanced by carving out the burned channels and filling them with colored epoxy, resulting in vivid, striking designs. While the artistic process allows for some guidance, Horn admits there’s always an element of unpredictability. 

“It won’t be exact,” he said of replicating detailed patterns like Montana waterways in design cut wood that he has Twin Creek Creations in De Borgia create. “The vein-burns are not controllable in precise measurements.”

Much of his work takes place in the family shop, using a variety of wood types which are often reclaimed or driftwood that he’s chosen for their grain and character. Safety remains a top priority, with Horn wearing heavy-duty electrician gloves and working atop a high-density rubber mat during the process.

His craftsmanship has already found a market. His products are available locally at Superior Meats and in Missoula at Rockin Rudy’s. He regularly attends regional events like the Frenchtown Craft Fair, the upcoming St. Regis Flea Market, and the Kalispel Holiday Extravaganza where he sells his products while showcasing the process. Recognizing his son’s business potential, Roger helped when Gage purchased an enclosed trailer to transport inventory to shows. 

“It’s not year-round, but it’s working on my own terms,” Horn said. “I’m putting money away for college and whatever else comes along.”

Beyond business, Horn maintains an impressive list of accomplishments. 

He serves as a State Ambassador on the Montana 4-H Foundation, coordinates their leadership events, and volunteers as a junior captain firefighter with both the Superior and Tarkio departments. 

Academically, he has earned 18 dual-enrollment college credits, scored a 32 on the ACT, achieved a perfect 5 on the AP Literature exam, and holds a GPA above 4.0. He is also a certified scuba diver and will graduate as co-valedictorian. This fall, Horn plans to attend Montana Tech in Butte to study mechanical engineering. 

“It’s the most diverse field,” he said. “You can pretty much solve all of the problems once you understand the fundamental skills.”

The scholarship that will help him get there carries a legacy of its own. Established by Gaylord Green, a 1958 St. Regis High School graduate and U.S. Air Force Academy alumnus credited with contributions to GPS technology, the award supports St. Regis and Superior High School students who aim to bring meaningful business development back to Mineral County.

“The scholarship is intended to bring a successful business to Mineral County without changing the culture,” Green has said. “Too often, young people leave because opportunity isn’t here.” 

To learn more about the Gaylord Green Scholarship, contact Merry Mueller, Mineral County Treasurer and Superintendent of Schools, who is the administrator of the scholarship. [email protected].

    Gage Horn stands with his parents, Roger and Melissa Horn, next to a table he purchased, then refurbished using the Lichtenberg wood burning technique that is the element behind his business that made him the recipient of this year’s Gaylor Green Scholarship. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
  

    Heavy duty electrician gloves while standing on a rubber mat are essential in the safety process of Horns burning technique. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
  

    Gage Horn purchases electric guitar kits and before their assembly, burns patterns into the front. This one he inlaid blue epoxy for an even more unique appearance. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
  

    The Lichtenberg wood burning process that Gage Horn performs shows electricity at work making unique patterns in the substrate. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)