Five pipe trades apprentices from Minnesota and North and South Dakota will compete in Chicago this summer after winning their respective categories at the Minnesota Pipe Trades Apprentice Training Competition sponsored by Local 6 Training Center in Rochester, Minn. The two-day competition tested for skills in five different specialties – plumbing, pipe fitting, pipe welding, HVAC service and sprinkler fitting.
“The main purpose of the competition is that every training center in Minnesota and the Dakotas can identify some of their top talent and send them to compete and determine who the best person is in those categories. Allows the training programs to compare themselves to others around the region and the nation to find ways to improve,” said Jeremy Thompson, Local 6’s Apprenticeship Coordinator.
“We definitely see a lot of improvement in our apprentices,” he said. But the competition isn’t all about the apprentices. It’s a measurement for the training programs themselves.” Brad Hopping, apprenticeship coordinator for Sprinkler Fitters Local 417, said it is an important measuring stick for them because they find out if what they are teaching is exactly what their apprentices need to know. “If they can’t compete at the national level,” he said, “then we need to retool our curriculum or find new instructors who know how to teach what’s necessary.”
The apprentice contestants were well rewarded for their participation. The prizes handed out to the participants made the trip worthwhile. “I told my guys to give it a try. It’s worth participating just to get the stuff they were handing out,” Hopping said.
From welding to HVAC, everyone walked away with something nice. The welders all received Lincoln Weld Packs and the others were given their choice of items from either Milwaukee Tools or DeWalt. The Milwaukee prizes included 18 volt Fuel Drill and Drive kits and DeWalt included a Stanley Tool Bag along with a battery-operated grinder. Both Milwaukee Tools and DeWalt representatives were present to explain the finer points of their equipment to everyone.
“You might not win but it’s worth seeing where you’re at,” Hopping said to his apprentices. “Then again, you might take first place. You won’t know unless you give it a shot.”
The winners will participate in the distinct competition in Chicago this summer. Here’s the list of winners:
Plumbers – Jon Rall, Local 15
Welders – Foster Havala, Local 300
Pipefitters – Matthew Amundson, Local 539
HVAC service – Jacob Bixler, Local 11
Sprinklerfitters – Sawyer Nelson, Local 417
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