Students Experience Skilled Trade Jobs at Annual Event in Edgewood

Some high school students from the Delaware County area recently had an opportunity to try their hand at careers in the skilled trades.

It was the third annual High-Demand Skilled Trades Event at Kendrick Forest Products in Edgewood last Tuesday. This event is a regional partnership between Delaware County Economic Development, Kendrick Forest Products, Edgewood Chamber of Commerce, and Northeast Iowa Community College. 

Over a dozen area businesses specializing in the skilled trades joined with ten area schools to gap a bridge between our schools and workforce. The event is aimed at providing a hands-on activity for students to really grasp what their next step could look like in the workforce. 

Among the schools participating were Maquoketa Valley, Ed-Co, West Delaware, Starmont, Central Elkader, Clayton Ridge, West Central, Nashua Plainfield, Dunkerton and Oelwein.

Among the businesses participating were:

Burrington Group
Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers
Edgewood Locker
Hawkeye Electric
Taylor Construction
Price Electric
Fehr Graham Engineering
Henderson Products
Kendrick Forest Products
Big River United Energy
Farm Tek
Black Hills Energy

Delaware County Economic Development says the positive responses from the area businesses make looking ahead to the 2026 event very exciting. They’re hoping to add a few more businesses and schools for next year.

photos courtesy of DCED