Albert Jones of First Quality organized the event.

The day began with an overview of the company, followed by tours of several operations at the McElhattan campus, and a break for lunch provided by First Quality.

Students also met with and had a question-and-answer session with team members from controls, projects and process engineers.

Manufacturing Day is a celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers.

KCSD PHOTOS Bucktail students pose at the main office of First Quality, McElhattan facilities. The group was chaperoned by Construction Trades teacher Bill Probst and KCSD Career and Technical Education Director Kurt Lynch. Students pictured: Cory Bennett, Nate Fort, Adrian Olsen, Conner Swope, Dylan Strouse, Gaven Becker and Kenny Winkelman.

First Quality gave local students the opportunity to see how manufacturing has changed, grown, and become more automated.

As First Quality continues to grow, so does their need for a workforce. What better way to grow a workforce than to look to local high schools for students who are seeking a job upon graduation.

There has been an increase in funding at the state level to prepare the next generation for the job skills gap. Focusing on Career and Technical Education students, funding is used to create more hands on and educational opportunities to bolster industry work force and weaken the impact of the skills gap that has already began to affect the trades, including manufacturing.

Both Bucktail and Central Mountain’s visit to First Quality was financed through a grant from PA Career Link. The grant covered all transportation and classroom substitute costs.