Golden Apple: Construction Expo in Bemidji Showcases Career Opportunities

The Construction Expo held its third event at the Bemidji Curling Club this year to showcase potential careers in the construction and building trade industries to local high schoolers.

According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, construction accounted for nearly 5% of jobs in 2023, providing about one in every 20 jobs in the state. The Construction Expo in Bemidji is trying to showcase post-secondary opportunities to local high school students in the construction or building trade industries through the event’s hands-on displays and demonstrations.

“The intent behind it is to get the high school kids some exposure to the trades, the union crafts that are around the area,” explained Mike Ganz, chair for Northwest Minnesota Construction Alliance. “They can build a lifetime career with any of the trades that are here, from bricklayers all the way to iron workers and operating engineers, carpenters, electricians, painters—the whole nine yards.”

The students who attended the expo had the chance to do some bricklaying or hook themselves up to an excavator simulator.

“I’m pretty interested in equipment operating and stuff like that, I’ve always done it,” said Trent, a 12th grader at Bemidji High School. “I’ve grown up on a farm pretty much my whole life here now, just 20 minutes north of Bemidji, and done a lot of equipment operating, and I’ve always found kind of an interest in it.”

A mini-competition between the teachers and students even broke out at the painting simulator.

“I think they ended up winning on their second try,” said Kelliher High School industrial tech teacher Eric Nord. “My first try, I was too heavy, so it was fun to see what their scores were and how they painted compared to like, using rattle cans in our shop versus using professional-type scrapes.”

Among the ways for students to learn about the different areas of the industry students could go into, you could even hook yourself up and walk the iron beam. The expo is also meant to showcase the advancements in technology that make jobs in the construction industry much easier.

“I think the biggest thing they’ll realize is technology has come so far in all the trades that it’s not just a back-and-shoulder job,” added Ganz. “A lot of them have technology involved where it takes the stress off of your body.”

But most importantly, the expo gave students the opportunity to discuss employment opportunities in the area and the importance of a skilled, well-trained workforce.

“It gives these kids some hands-on experiences that most times they don’t have,” emphasized Tony Hommes, a Bemidji High School construction trades teacher. “If I had this as a kid, I may not have became a teacher; these experiences are great for these students.”

The Construction Expo usually takes place in Bemidji once every other year, but event organizers are hopeful this will become a yearly event to keep students interested in potential careers in the construction and building trade industries.