麻豆传媒AV

麻豆传媒AV’s College of Technology hosted 131 high school students from 23 schools across the region for the annual Rocky Mountain Shootout welding competition.

The event is designed to test technical welding skills while giving students exposure to Idaho State’s welding program and facilities. It also serves as a recruiting opportunity for the university’s College of Technology.

Students competed in two divisions: agricultural (AG) and trade and industrial (T&I). The AG division included FFA and agricultural programs, with students completing stick welding (SMAW) and wire-feed (GMAW) tests. The T&I division featured students with more advanced training, competing in open-root welds and positional welding tasks.

“This is our welding program’s premier recruiting event,” said Lucas Bloxham, coordinator and clinical senior instructor. “We bring in about 130 students, and it gives them a chance to see all of the programs we offer here in the Eames Advanced Technical Education and Innovation Complex.”

Bloxham said the competition also allows students to measure their skills against peers from other schools while learning more about training opportunities at Idaho State.

“We have a top-notch welding program and facility,” he said. “Students get to compete against other schools, and over the years there’s been some rivalry. They really push for those top spots.”

That competition played out across multiple divisions as students vied for individual and team honors.

In AG individual competition, Porter Woolstenhulme of Bear Lake placed first, followed by Jax Ellison and Major Chavez of Blackfoot, Cooper Smith of Bear Lake, and Rodolfo Reyes of Murtaugh. In the AG team competition, Blackfoot took first place with Major Chavez, Jax Ellison and Adan Cardona. Bear Lake finished second with Porter Woolstenhulme, Kaleb Wiscombe and Tyken Carlisle, followed by another Bear Lake team of Cooper Smith, Carson Olson and Calder Smith.

In the T&I division, Isaac Ramirez of Nampa earned first place, followed by Cameron Cronquist of Nampa, Kevin Garcia of Nampa, Sammy Peterson of DTEC, and Rolando Castillo of Nampa. In TIG welding, Ramirez again placed first, followed by Keltyn Jenson of Cossa and Wade Dailey of Butte County.

Welding continues to be one of the most in-demand skilled trades across construction, manufacturing and energy sectors, making events like the Rocky Mountain Shootout a direct link between education and workforce needs.

For Idaho State, the competition functions as both a proving ground and a recruitment pipeline, bringing students to campus, showing them what is possible, and placing the university at the center of regional workforce development.

The Rocky Mountain Shootout is made possible by the generous support of: Idaho Central Credit Union, NORCO, Glanbia, Pacific Steel, Williams, Aztec Welding, LaMar Inspecting, L&L Mechanical, ATS, Remax - Mai Team, Industrial Metal Enterprises, DK Constructors, Gloves Direct, Sundt, Kinross, and 3M.