Harmony Supports Welding Competitions
Harmony Enterprises is passionate about career exploration and navigation for today’s youth. We are especially interested in activities that highlight the valuable opportunities in the trades and in manufacturing. That’s why were committed to supporting the second annual Southeast Minnesota Welding Competition held at the Plumbers and Pipefitter’s Local Union 6 in Rochester, MN on Wednesday, April 30th.
The Southeast Minnesota Welding Competition is in its 2nd year and was made available to high school students in SE Minnesota who have taken welding courses and are interested in pursuing a career in welding, manufacturing, military, or the trades. The event consisted of three main parts: The Welding Competition, A Career Fair, and an opportunity for businesses, schools, and students to network and develop relationships to better the industries of welding, manufacturing, and the trades in Southeast Minnesota. Over 150 students competed in the timed welding competition that included both MIG and stick welding components. Nearly 500 students took part in the career fair and networking part of the day. Harmony was proud to have a table at the career fair, sharing our passion for manufacturing, long lasting quality careers, and creating new relationships with students and faculty. We were very proud to be able to provide one of the end of the day prizes in the form of a new Miller Digital Performance Series welding helmet!
Bringing It Home
While we were glad to be a part of the regional competition, Harmony is even more excited about the great things happening in the vocational tech classroom at Fillmore Central High School in Harmony, MN. The welding class, led by instructor and school alumni, Brady Ristau, reached out to Harmony Enterprises asking if we would be willing to come in a judge a local competition as a “practice run” for the regional competition the following week. Engineer Jake Johnson developed a print and Harmony supplied the parts to be welded in a 12 minute timed MIG and 10 minute timed stick welding component.
The students presented their final products to Harmony welding lead, Kevin Fisher, Engineer and former welder Jake Johnson, and New Business Development Manager, Lane Powell during one of their morning class periods. Student projects were judged based on the quality of six welds and the overall assembly of the parts to match the print.
Fillmore Central HS Welding Instructor, Brady Ristau with local welding competition winners Peter Haugerud (2nd Place), Tyson Sprenger (1st Place), & Atlee Hershberger (3rd Place)
During the judging period, students were able to ask Harmony’s welding professionals about techniques and better understand some of the challenges they encountered in the timed test.
Nearly twenty students participated in the practice run, including the five students that Harmony sent to the SE MN competition. The entire class participated in the career fair and networking parts of the regional event! The top three scores each received a custom steel trophy from Harmony and the overall winner received a welding helmet like the one donated to the larger competition the following week.
In an effort to continually improve, Harmony Enterprises plans to help the students in the class next year, but this time providing them with an example of what a perfect finished product would look like, how to read a print from our shop floor, as well as helpful insight on the most efficient order in which to assemble the test product. By taking the extra time to walk the students through the process, it will ensure greater success in both their local and regional competitions.
Fillmore Central Ag Teacher, Brady Ristau commented on Harmony Enterprises’ collaboration and support of his students, saying, “Harmony Enterprises’ efforts and dedication to helping the students at Fillmore Central High School is second to none. They went above and beyond my expectations in helping students prepare for this competition and growing their skills. Harmony Enterprises cares about giving back to the community and shaping the youth of the future. It’s companies like this that are the backbone of this country and I am proud they are a part of our community.”
“Harmony Enterprises’ efforts and dedication to helping the students at Fillmore Central High School is second to none. They went above and beyond my expectations in helping students prepare for this competition and growing their skills. Harmony Enterprises cares about giving back to the community and shaping the youth of the future. It’s companies like this that are the backbone of this country and I am proud they are a part of our community.”
-Brady Ristau, Fillmore Central Ag Teacher
Supporting Future Generations
What type of career navigation and exploration activities does your company support? Whether its career fairs or competitions, Harmony is proud to be an advocate for today’s youth and future workforce. We also are committed to creating long lasting, innovative, and data-driven solutions that will make the earth a better and more sustainable place for future generations.
How can we help your business with your own sustainability goals, while improving your bottom line? Call us at (507) 886-6666, or fill out this simple form for information on how you can save time, space, labor, and money managing waste, while generating recycling revenue and improving the customer experience!
