ESAB’s Future Fabricators program has donated welding and cutting equipment with a retail value over $450,000 as part of the prize packages for the junior agricultural mechanics student competition at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo® (held Feb. 21 – 23) and the agricultural mechanics project show at Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (March 21 – 23). ESAB has made similar six-figure donations to previous ag mechanics events.
Wildorado FFA member Grayson Blount was named Grand Champion of the San Antonio event for fabricating a 40-ft. flatbed gooseneck with hydraulic dovetail (see page 191 of awards presentation). Tucker Soules, a senior from Hallsville FFA, was named Grand Champion of the Houston event (see announcement) for his 40-foot self-loading and unloading in-line hay trailer. Soules plans to pursue a degree in manufacturing, technology and business with hopes to open his own fabrication business.
The ESAB prize packages, which varied by winning category, included such ESAB products as Ruffian ES 150G EDW engine-driven welding generators, Thermal Dynamics® Cutmaster® manual plasma cutters, Rogue ES 201iP PRO Stick/Live TIG welders and Victor® Medalist® oxy-fuel cutting outfits. To deliver the prize packages on site, ESAB worked in conjunction with distribution partners Airgas® in San Antonio and AllTex Welding Supply in Houston.
“ESAB has a long history of supporting agriculture mechanics programs because we believe that skilled tradespeople are essential to sustaining our infrastructures and ensuring safe and functional communities,” says Eleanor Lukens, ESAB President of the Americas. “When we see students demonstrate their skills at the Houston and San Antonio rodeos, we know that the future of the industry is in good hands.”
FFA (previously known as Future Farmers of America) is the premier youth organization preparing members for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture. Texas boasts nearly 1,100 FFA chapters, each one typically associated with a school district.
“The complexity and fabrication skill demonstrated in these FFA ag mechanics projects does the welding industry proud,” says Justin Kirby, co-owner of AllTex Welding Supply, board member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and former ag mechanics student competitor. “If an outsider looked at the trailers, grills, livestock pens, tables and farm equipment built by students, they would think they were made by professionals charging thousands of dollars, but that’s just the quality of the future fabricators we educate in Texas.”
