High school students from around Oregon are invited to compete in a welding competition at Linn-Benton Community College as part of the Willamette Valley Ag Expo’s Youth Ag Day on Wednesday, November 18, 2026. All students participating in the contest will return to the expo for awards and lunch.

Registration for the 2026 competition is open

The Welding Competition takes place at Linn-Benton Community College (6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany) beginning at 9 a.m. After the competition, students will head to the Willamette Valley Ag Expo at the Linn County Expo Center, where they can explore the Expo. Awards will be announced at 1:30 p.m. during a pizza lunch.

The welding competition has two separate categories: Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) and Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW). Schools are limited to a maximum of 8 contestants, 4 per category:

• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) – limit 4 contestants
• Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) – limit 4 contestants

Shielded Metal Arc Welding Competitors will receive a pre-tacked part and complete welds as assigned. Expect 3F fillet welds and 2F multipass welds using 7018 and 6011 electrodes, along with lap joints. A 30-minute timer begins once the competitor enters the booth. Scoring criteria will include overall weld consistency, weld profile, weld leg size, and the presence of defects such as spatter, undercut, and porosity.

Gas Metal Arc Welding Competitors will receive a pre-tacked part and complete welds as assigned. Expect to set machines for proper steel thickness using .035 dia ER70s wire and perform 3F and 2F Tee and Lap welds. A 30-minute timer begins once the competitor enters the booth. Scoring criteria will include overall weld consistency, weld profile, weld leg size, and the presence of defects such as spatter, undercut, and porosity.

The Willamette Valley Ag Expo Welding Competition will be held at Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC) (6500 Pacific Blvd SW, Albany) beginning at 9am, and winners will be announced during a pizza lunch at 1:30 p.m. at the Willamette Valley Ag Expo at the Linn County Expo Center (3700 Knox Butte Rd, Albany). Prizes will be announced at a later date.

Advisors, please register your students using the online registration form below. Each student competing must have a signed waiver (Available Here), and students under 18 must also have a parent or guardian signature. If you have questions about the competition or registration, please contact info@wvaexpo.com.

Overall Point Champions 2025: Eagle Point High

• 2nd – Silverton
• 3rd – Redmond
• 4th – Madras
• 5th – Monument

Individual Winners

Shielded Metal Arc Welding

• 1st – Jack Quinones, Pleasant Hill HS
• 2nd – Lucas Schurter, Silverton HS
• 3rd – Rylan Haskins, Eagle Point
• 4th – Hilton Waldon, Eagle Point
• 5th – Johnny Birch, Silverton HS
• 6th – Elisa Starbuck, Monument HS
• 7th – Wyatt Weycker, Eagle Point
• 8th – Ryder Steiner, Eagle Point
• 9th – Colten Irwin, Lebanon
• 10th – Wyatt Pettigrew, Eagle Point

Gas Metal Arc Welding

• 1st – Aiden Nussbaum, Eagle Point
• 2nd – Trenton Schurler, Silverton
• 3nd – Austin Waters, Hidden Valley HS
• 4th – Raylon Oliver, Redmond HS
• 5th – Conner Conpagna, – Eagle Point
• 6th – Bentley Stockton, – Madras
• 7h – Sebastian Corona, Ortega Madras
• 8th – Chistian Brown, Madras
• 9th – Kellen Kuenzi, Silverton HS
• 10th – Hayden Manchas, Redmond HS

Thank you to everyone that competed!