"..how many people in the world can claim to have a chunk of hand made iron which they helped make?..."

Almost guilty as charged!

Somewhere I still have a 2" length of 1/2" diameter very high purity (metallurgical laboratory quality<1>) iron I helped produce from cast iron billets back in 1976 - middle of a heat wave, everyone else was in lightweight clothes and muggins here was in heavy cords, lab coat, safety boots etc. and full face visor working in a foundry -oh joy!
Not quite smelting from ore, but perhaps the follow up stage?

W

<1> Better than 'ARMCO' purity IIRC