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 12, 2025. All students participating in the contest will return to the expo for awards, pizza lunch, and a presentation on agricultural careers.

Registration for the 2025 competition is closed

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 is a series of welds utilizing industry standard maintenance rod including 7018 and 6011(6010). Machines vary in brands and are set to zero prior to the start of all competitors’ usage. The competition incorporates precut material and several welds including but not limited to Butt Welds, Fillet Welds, and Lap Welds. Contestants have 30 minutes to assemble and weld out their product. Judging is based on correct assembly of parts and overall weld appearance.

Gas Metal Arc Welding is a series of welds utilizing .035 70s-6 welding wire with 75% Ar/25%C02 cover gas. Students compete with a Millermatic 252 that is set to zero prior to the start of all competitors’ usage except for cover gas. The competition incorporates precut material and several welds including but not limited to Butt Welds, Fillet Welds, and Lap Welds. Contestants have 30 minutes to assemble and weld out their product. Judging is based on correct assembly of parts and overall weld appearance.

Closed for 2025

This competition will be held at LBCC (6500 Pacific Blvd SW, Albany). Check-in time is at 8:30am at LBCC. Awards and career presentations to follow at the Willamette Valley Ag Expo, held at the Linn County Expo Center (3700 Knox Butte Rd, Albany), at 1:00pm.

Welding Competition Awards Lunch provided by

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!