Twenty-three high schools from all around the south central and south eastern parts of Minnesota participated in a welding competition held at Local 6 Pipefitters Training Center in Rochester. One hundred seventy-four (174) students from Winona to Albert Lea to Northfield and even Hinckley got the opportunity to test their welding skills. They were graded by industry professionals. Several hundred more came to the Rochester facility to attend a career fair to explore welding careers pathways in manufacturing, the skilled trades, and the military.

 The student competitors were required to perform two weld processes, wire feed and stick welding, in 24 minutes. Four certified welding inspectors judged the students’ welds and scored them with the max score being 100 points. The students did three Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welds and four stick welds and were judged on assembly as well. Each weld had a max score of 10 points for a max total of 70 points for the welding part plus another 30 points maximum was awarded based on total assembly. For the record, Byron High School took first place.

 This is the first year the competition has been held at the Local 6 Pipefitters training center. Previously, competition had been hosted by Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC).  Local 6 Apprenticeship Coordinator Jeremy Thompson and the leaders at his local union noticed it had been growing every year. “Before we just had a booth at the competition. But I knew that because it was growing at the rate it was they were starting to run out of space. We thought it was a great opportunity to get the students over to our training center,” he said.

 Organizers estimate somewhere between 400-600 students attended the competition and career fair. Students got a free lunch for attending which required an order of more than 100 large pizzas from a local pizzeria.

 Local 6 has plenty of space (2,200 square feet) with more to come. They are planning a big space increase of up to 9,000 sq feet once they complete renovating an adjacent building they purchased recently.

 Thompson noted the trade has plenty of good things going on in Rochester.  He added, “We are going to be taking in quite a few apprentices.”

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