Hillyard Tech students explore career paths on Manufacturing Day tour  

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce marked Manufacturing Day on Thursday, Oct. 2, giving students a closer look at career opportunities in their own backyard.  

Students from Hillyard Technical Center toured I&M Machine and Fabrication. And for many of them, it was their first time stepping inside a factory they’d only ever driven past.  

“It’s just an effort to get high school kids to understand what’s going on in these factories that are in this town. They just drive by and nobody knows what’s going on there,” said Jon Barron, the general manager of I&M.

Barron said the turnout was big this year — 23 groups of about 20 students each. And it’s more than just a quick look around.  

The program has already led to real opportunities, with three students moving into apprenticeships at the factory after taking the tour.   

“They want to get into the workforce and with a good job and make real money right off, so they hope to get more hands-on experience working in the factories,” Barron said.  

Cooper Tabor, a senior at Hillyard Tech, said he’s hoping to get more hands-on experience in the industry and eventually land a job that can really support him.  

“The amount of machines they have they have is kind of cool and it’s crazy to know how much money they cost,” Tabor said.  

He said he came on the tour because he enjoys working around machines — it’s something he’d take over a desk job any day.  

“This is my first time being here for the tour, and I really want to be able to do something to support myself and it sets me up to live the life that I want,” Tabor said.  

Tabor hopes to find a good job out of state where he can put his skills and training to use.