More than 1,400 students from 41 high schools from across Tulare and Kings Counties, as well as 37 local companies participated in the 4th Annual Trades Day at the Porterville Fairgrounds on Thursday.
Throughout the day high school students learned about careers in building, construction, and transportation industries and had fun hands-on experiences. Students were able to talk to experts at local companies and colleges, and were shown how to spread mortar and set tiles with help from staff at Visalia Ceramic Tile, learned about welding from instructors from Porterville College, how to hammer nails into wood with help from College of the Sequoias Construction Technology, and they learned how to operate a digger with the help of Operating Engineers Local 3 JATC, Larry Thompson and Noey Cerda.
Students also learned about the trucking business.
Shea Leslie and Brooke Berry from Summit Collegiate High School both learned to spread mortar and lay tile at Visalia Ceramic Tile. They said it's harder than it looks, requires more technique and the VCT demonstrator showed them first how to do it.
You can put tile on tables, counters, floors, and shower, everything. But when it has to do with water, it gets more complicated.
Leslie and Berry said it was fun and now they're pros.
Maritza Sanchez from VCT said they like to come out here to inspire kids and show them there are options besides college.
Tim Hire, Tulare County Superintendent of Education was at Trades Day, as was Sergio Aparico from Porterville Unified School District Pathways.
Cohen Qualls learned about welding from a Porterville College Instructor and welded some metal. He's a senior at Sierra Pacific High School in Hanford. He said it was pretty fun, but hot. And he might do welding as a hobby.
Ramon Lopez, a junior from Sierra Pacific said, "Welding is great. It's fun and I like it."
Back at Visalia Ceramic Tile, Paul Weargin was spreading mortar like a pro and laying tile. "It was a cool experience. And it was something different. And I enjoyed it." He's from Corcoran Kings Lake Education Center.
"I think this a fantastic opportunity for the kids to learn about different ways to make a living. Some of these kids are extremely talented," said Doug Grimsley, from Kings Lake Education Center in Corcoran.
PUSD Board member Pete Lara said Trades Day is a good chance to introduce kids to a career where they don't end up with student loans and they have a skill that's needed. They will also be able to take care of themselves and their families for the rest of their lives.
He mentioned if you retire from the Electrical Union you will have benefits for life. "This is something of value. PUSD is entirely behind Pathways and TCOE."
John Lopez Pacheco was bending over and vigorously hammering a nail into a piece of wood at the COS Construction Technology Booth. "That was exciting, pounding that nail." He's in the Construction Management Academy at Dinuba High School, and said he's built a shed, a dog house, "And now we are making a luxury portable restroom on wheels. For parties and special events."
A staff member from Porterville College Career Education said they had so many career opportunities available for students and the list was endless. There was a lot of information available and students could talk to instructors and staff members alike.
Students also got in one of the big rig trucks to find out what it was like, and they honked the horn. Chuy Alcarez said, "To be there for the rest of my life. I don't think so. But the salary is great. But it's not for me." He was from Sierra Pacific in Hanford.
Adrian Sanchez, from the same high school, said, "It seems like a good job, but you are away from home for weeks on end." Besides learning about trucking, he learned how to cut metal with a blow torch.
Elizabeth Martin from Granite HIlls, learned how to operate a digger with the help of an engineer from the Operating Engineers, Local 3, JATC. District Coordinator Larry Thompson said they offer a paid apprenticeship with the largest trades union in the nation, (local 3). Apprentices can earn while they learn with a starting wage of $34.41 per hour, up to $53.18 per hour with full benefits. The We Build Lives website is www.oe3.org.
San Joaquin College had a booth where Program Manager Joshua Title explained to students about Schematic Reading for Electrical Technology, Industrial Maintenance, and HVAC systems.
Southern California Edison had a Mobile Education Unit at the event, and Adam De La Torre, Field Manager MEU, said they teach about clean energy and workforce development. "We have a lot of classes about what we offer for green jobs for free. They are HVAC, Electrical, plumbing, Solar, and more. That is the whole purpose of this group. We go to schools, colleges, and community events."
Tradeswomen, Inc. Recruiters Mical Talamantes and Almiesha Williams, taught students how to build simple stools out of wood during Trades Day.
Mason Milam from Sequoia Middle School built a stool with the help of Deborah Vasquez from Tradeswomen.
Nurses from Sierra View Medical Center were showing students how to do CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver on Hospital Dummies, and Ryanne Shanley was talking to students and instructors about electric transportation options at PUSD. She's the lead for Climate Action Pathways for Schools.
New this year, a Trades Day Scholarship Opportunity will launch in spring 2026 for high school seniors who attended the 2025 event, offering financial support to students pursuing postsecondary education or training in trade-related fields.\
For more information about Trades Day, contact Shelsy Hutchison at [email protected], or visit https://www.tcoe.org/CollegeandCareer/TradesDay.