Welding Rodeo returns to NWTC

October 6, 2025

MARINETTE/STURGEON BAY – One down, one to go.

Welding torches are heating up once again at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC), as the college revives its popular Welding Rodeo for a second year.

Cindy Bailey, NWTC director of K-12 pathways and rural community impact, said the event merges art, education and workforce development – bringing together students, professionals and community members for a celebration of skilled trades and regional innovation.

The Welding Rodeo at the college’s Marinette campus took place Oct. 1 and will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 9, at its Sturgeon Bay campus. 

This year’s events again feature:

• Welding competitions
• A STEM career fair
• Live auction of metal art
• Family activities

Designed to highlight both the creativity and career potential of welding, Bailey said the event supports NWTC scholarships and reinforces the region’s deep roots in shipbuilding, manufacturing and the skilled trades.

“The need for skilled welders continues to grow across our state, and this event 

shines a spotlight on how education and industry can come together to meet that 

demand,” she said. “The Welding Rodeo is about more than competition – it’s about inspiring 

future talent, opening doors for high school students and ensuring our rural communities have access to the careers that sustain and grow our region.”