About 80 FFA students from across Oklahoma put their welding skills to the test at a huge competition in Mayes County. Ag teachers say this is just another example of what the organization has to offer.

Students from Idabel to Stigler to Jenks showed up at the Mayes County fairgrounds to take part. Before they could fire up their welding equipment, they had to take a written test as part of the competition.

“It’s pretty interesting,” said Alex Mackey, a junior at Oologah High School.

His partner, Cory Franklin, has been welding for three years but this was his first competition.

“Getting to meet new people,” said Franklin. “Getting to weld. That’s what I love to do.”

The task for the 40 teams competing from the 25 different FFA chapters is to build a six foot work bench. The students got a half hour of help from instructors but were then turned loose.

They brought their own equipment, but the metal was provided.

“We’ve got cross arms we’ve got to build and weld together,” said Franklin.

Chouteau-Mazie ag teacher Jack Crawford is the organizer of this contest. He says the high interest from students to take part in the competition is just another example of what FFA has to offer.

“I always like to say ag isn’t just cows, plows and sows,” he said. “We do public speaking, we do shop, some of my kids race.”

Crawford says he enjoys sharing his passion with students all across Oklahoma. While these competitors are still in high school, this competition is one that could prepare them for life after graduation.

“I’ve also had kids that come straight out of my shop class, get a job and they’re pipelining or they’re working for the pipe union,” he said.

The team from Sapulpa took home first place in the competition.