The Elkhorn Area School District is one of 17 statewide to receive Wisconsin Fast Forward Program grant funding for tech ed program enhancements.
Evers, DWD announce $408,123 in technical education equipment grants
In Walworth County, $33,556 in grant funding was awarded to the Elkhorn Area School District for a Haas Mini Mill computer numerical control (CNC) vertical machining center with 4th-axis drive, a servo rotary table, and a classroom simulator.
With a goal of meeting the demands of local manufacturers for a skilled workforce, the equipment will be used for advanced manufacturing industry training and certifications for Elkhorn Area High School students enrolled in the technical education (tech ed) program.
Tadlock
“We’re very excited,” said Elkhorn Area School District Administrator Jason Tadlock of the grant award. “It’s gonna allow us to add a third Haas milling machine. It (Wisconsin Fast Forward Program grant funding) covers about half that cost and allows us to use our Act 59 funds to cover the remaining costs to add that piece of equipment. We feels it’s really gonna enhance our CNC shop by having three mills now to give kids access to, training to, and greater simulation of tools and equipment they’re gonna see in the workplace. I really want to thank our instructor, Michael Thomas, for his efforts in putting this plan together, and Katie James, the district grant writer, in helping us secure the funds.”
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Tadlock
On July 2, Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced that 4,637 students in 17 school districts, including Elkhorn, will benefit from advanced manufacturing training in preparation for high-demand job opportunities thanks to grants from the Wisconsin Fast Forward Program.
Evers Evers
“Advanced manufacturing is an important part of our economy in Wisconsin, and ensuring our kids have access to high-demand, high-skill job training opportunities is critical if we want to prepare our future workforce for the 21st Century,” Evers said. “By investing in technical education in school districts across the state, we are connecting the dots and expanding career opportunities for thousands of students while positioning our manufacturers for success.”
The current round of Wisconsin Fast Forward grants from DWD totals $408,123 for school districts across the state to train students for career paths involving robotics, welding, plasma cutting, 3D printing, drones, and more. These grants reimburse school districts for the costs of purchasing and installing technical education equipment used for vocational training and technical education in advanced manufacturing fields. This includes the purchase of new equipment such as CNC machines, robotic welders, fiber laser cutting machines, 3D printers, and more.
Pechacek
“Fast Forward grants connect school districts across Wisconsin with some of the great advanced manufacturing companies we have in our state, such as Baileigh Industrial and Snap-On, to prepare our future workforce for careers in high-demand, high-skill industries,” said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. “The state-of-the-art equipment, including robotic welders, laser cutters, 3D printers, and other high-tech tools, will enable schools to provide coursework that aligns with industry standards and requirements.”
High school students will train in advanced manufacturing fields to prepare for stable careers while they obtain dual enrollment credits, industry-endorsed certificates, and technical endorsements on high school diplomas.
Advanced manufacturing refers to a family of manufacturing activities that depend on the use and coordination of information, automation, computation, software, sensing, and networking, and/or use of cutting-edge materials and emerging production capabilities enabled by the physical and biological sciences, including nanotechnology, chemistry, and biology. This involves both new ways of manufacturing existing products and manufacturing new products emerging from advanced technologies.
Other Wisconsin school districts receiving Wisconsin Fast Forward Program grant awards include:
- Wilmot Union High School District, Kenosha County, $12,212.
- Two Rivers Public School District, Manitowoc County, $12,630.
- Port Washington-Saukville School District, Ozaukee County, $29,348.
- Hurley School District, Iron County, $20,258.
- Muskego-Norway School District, Waukesha County, $50,000.
- Peshtigo School District, Marinette County, $5,000.
- School District of Nekoosa, Wood County, $9,538.
- School District of Holmen, La Crosse County, $10,869.
- Augusta Area School District, Eau Claire County, $35,798.
- School District of Jefferson, Jefferson County, $38,176.
- Madison Metropolitan School District, Dane County, $49,208.
- Stockbridge School District, Calumet County, $5,000.
- School District of Superior, Douglas County, $25,243.
- School District of Spencer, Marathon County, $7,844.
- School District of Rhinelander, Oneida County, $46,050.
- School District of La Crosse, La Crosse County, $17,393.
Additional information on the Wisconsin Fast Forward Program is available online at https://wisconsinfastforward.com.
IN 17 PHOTOS AND 3 VIDEOS: 2023 ELKHORN RIBFEST
The MilBillies perform at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest
Milwaukee-based 5-piece bluegrass string band The MilBillies were one of the many bands performing during the 5-day July 12-16 run of the seventh annual Elkhorn Ribest at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. The nationally-known festival, launched in 2016, attracts more than 100,000 festival-goers annually.
Eric Johnson
Ribfest Beer Garden at Walworth County Fairgrounds
The 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest, now in its seventh season, was expected to draw crowds in excess of 100,000 attendees to the Walworth County Fairground across the span of its 5-day July 12-16 run.
Eric Johnson
Rib Run bike show at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest
Among the attractions at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribest at the Walworth County Fairgrounds was the July 13 Rib Run open bike show, where participants could ride and park in the middle of the fairgrounds for motorcycle judging between noon and 6 p.m. in a variety of categories, with trophies awarded for Best Bagger, Best Bobber, Best Chopper, Best Cruiser, Best Freestyle and Best Vintage, as well as a trophy for Grand Champion.
Eric Johnson
Couple caricature at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest at the Walworth County Fairgrounds
Beyond sampling a wide array of barbecued ribs, the July 12-16, 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest national rib competition at the Walworth County Fairgrounds offered up a variety of additional memorable moments for festival attendees. Dating three years, Kaylen Betts (left) and Angel Carbajal of Beloit left with a colorful custom-made marker-and-watercolor memento by Elkhorn live event caricature artist Tim Kannard of Laughing Dawg Studio.
Eric Johnson
Ribfest Cornell Simon of Miami mops rib slabs for Blazin’ Bronco BBQ
Miami resident Cornell Simon mops St. Louis-style rib slabs with barbecue sauce at the Blazin’ Bronco BBQ rib stand at the July 12-16 Elkhorn Ribfest national rib competition at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. Simon is a veteran 23-year grillmaster on the professional national rib festival circuit. Blazin’ Bronco has more than 300 national wins to its credit.
Eric Johnson
Midway o’ ribs at the July 12-16, 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest national rib competition
The 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest national rib competition on July 12-15 at the Walworth County Fairgrounds offered delicious, mouth-watering barbecue by 13 world-renowned award-winning professional ribbers — Armadillo’’s BBQ, Aussome Aussie, BBQ King, Blazin’ Broncos, Buck ‘em BBQ, Cowboy’s BBQ & Rib Co., Desperado’s BBQ, Howling Coyote BBQ, Johnson’s BBQ, Just North of Memphis BBQ, MM&E BBQ, Mr. Green’s BBQ and Salt Creek BBQ. Competiting ribbers in the Sunday, July 16 community barbecue competition were slated to include Barnes and Sons BBQ, BBQ Bros., Burton’s BBQ, Du-Little BBQ, Hillbilly Deluxe, HL Smokers, Jampa BBQ, KTB BBQ, Last Place BBQ, Lard Ash BBQ, Lords of Smoke, McKee’s Bar-B-Que, Pauls Smokehouse & BBQ, Pork Lives Matter, Puck Stop BBQ, Ricky’s Ribs, Roll The Bones BBQ, Small & Tall, Smoke The Pig BBQ, Smokin’ Blue BBQ, Todd’s Backyard BBQ, and Wapatui Smokers.
Eric Johnson
Grillmaster Dee Price of Cleveland mops rib slabs for Buck ’em BBQ at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest
Six-year proefessional rib circuit grillmaster Dee Price, of Cleveland, a 37-year barbecue enthusisast, keeps a watchful eye on charcoal-grilled rib slabs at the Buck ‘em BBQ stand at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest national rib competition at the Walworth County Fairgrounds.
Eric Johnson
Professional ribber Col. Dan Johnson of Virginia Beach, Va.-based Johnson’s BBQ at the grill during the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest
Professional ribber and Purple Heart veteran Col. Dan Johnson of Virginia Beach, Va., the 38-year owner of Johnson’s Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Que, displays his grillmaster skills at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. Arkansas-born Johnson and his pit crew have won numerous local, regional, national and international rib competition awards for their St. Louis-style ribs and sauce.
Eric Johnson
Elkhorn Ribfest crowd scene on the Walworth County Fairgrounds
The 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest, now in its seventh season, was expected to draw crowds in excess of 100,000 attendees to the Walworth County Fairground across the span of its 5-day July 12-16 run. As seen here, the festival grounds were filled with food and merchandise vendors, an artisanarts-and-crafts market, and carnival rides and games.
2023 Elkhorn Ribfest competitor Jeff Mrnak of Racine-based MM&E BBQ spritzes ribs slabs in the smoker
Pitmaster Jeff Mynak of Racine-based MM&E Premium Meats & East spritzes Texas-stylebarbecue ribs in his custom smoker at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest national rib competition at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. MME&E was the 2022 Elkhorn Ribfest Grand Champion.
Eric Johnson
The Judson Brown Band performs at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest
Fiddler and vocalist Colleen Kuraszek and guitarist, vocalist and namesake band leader Judson Brown headlined the Walworth County Fairgrounds’ Park Stage as The Judson Brown Band peformed a mix of acoustic rock, pop and country music at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest.
Eric Johnson
Ribfest line for barbecue at Desperado’s BBQ & Rib Co. stand at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest
The July 12-16, 2023 Elkhiorn Ribfest national rib competition drew large crowds at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. Seen is a Thursday afternoon line at the barbecue rib stand run by nantional award winning rib vendor Desperado’s BBQ & Rib Co. of Hinckley, Ohio.
Eric Johnson
Ohio resident Mike Frost loads rib slabs into the rotary smoker at the Armadillo’s Rib & BBQ Co. stand at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest national rib competition
Pitmaster Mike Frost of Ohio loads dry-rubbed St. Louis-style pork sparerib slabs into the rotary smoker at the Armadillo’s Rib & BBQ Co. tent at the July 12-16, 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest national rib competition at the Walworth County Fairgrounds.
Eric Johnson
Grillmaster Riley Atkinson prepares a barbecue rib order at the Just North of Memphis BBQ stand at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest national rib competition
Professional grillmaster Riley Atkinson prepares a barbecue rib order at the Just North of Memphis BBQ stand at the July 12-16, 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest national rib competition at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. Owned by Jon and Kristy Bigalk of Annandale, Minn., just west of the Twin Cities metro area, Just North of Memphis is a charter Elkhorn Ribfest competitor, serving up Memphis-style dry-rubbed barbeque ribs and three award-winning sauces.
Eric Johnson
Travis Lindsey attends the Strongman Challenge on the carnival midway at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest national rib competition at the Walworth County Fairgrounds
Ft. Atkinson resident Travis Lindsey (pictured) tried his hand at the midway Strongman Challenge run by Fond du Lac-based carnival entertainment vendor Fun ‘n Games at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest national rib competition at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. The challenge, a two-minute full body hang from a suspended bar, is a feat accomplished by five out of 100 challengers according to ride operator Christopher Thorsen. Lindsey lasted 59:29 seconds into the 2-minute challenge.
Zac Cox at 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest
Zac Cox, of Burlington, tries some ribs at last year’s Elkhorn Ribfest. The event returns July 10-14 to the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn.
Eric Johnson
Connecticut wall mural street artist ARCY works on one of two murals he created at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest national rib competition
Popular Connecticut street artist ARCY returned to the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn July 12-16 to engage in live art demonstrations as he created two large scale 8×12-foot spray paint art murals at the 2023 Elkhorn Ribfest national rib competition. Touring across the nation and around the world since 2015, ARCY has created hundreds of live murals and permanent large scale works throughout North America, Australia and Europe.
Eric Johnson
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