Black Hills students explore trades at AGC Construction Camp
Hundreds of high school students from across the Black Hills traded their textbooks for heavy machinery on Wednesday at the Central States Fairgrounds. More than 200 teens attended the first day of the annual Associated General Contractors (AGC) of South Dakota Construction Career Exploration Camp.
The two-day interactive event offers students direct, hands-on experience in high-demand construction trades, including heavy equipment operation, concrete pouring, carpentry, welding, and plumbing. Organizers aim to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the growing demand for skilled labor across the state.
"That’s the ultimate goal," said Justin Rey, AGC of South Dakota’s director of workforce development. "To trigger something in somebody that says, 'Yes, this is what I want to do for my career.'"
Many participants found the event offered a clear alternative to traditional academic tracks.
"To me, it shows that there’s different opportunities other than just going to a college for four years," said student Grant Steiner. "And personally, I'm not built for college for four years. So tech school’s what I’m looking forward to, and that’s kind of what this shows and might give a little bit of insight to other people."
Students tested out tools and machinery, networked with regional contractors and technical educators about post-graduation pathways, summer jobs, and apprenticeships. The camp continues Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with another 200 students expected to attend.