Caribou County helps build Construction Combine Legacy

The Construction Combine, headed by Scott Stephens of Continuing Education Workforce Training (SWET) at Idaho State University, is made of a large number of moving parts, including contractors, sponsors, leaders, volunteers, businesses, and students.  This year, a number of those essential parts came from Caribou County.  There are two main goals for the Combine, according to Stephens—to honor veterans, and to provide an opportunity for students considering entering into the construction field to get hands-on experience with the processes and skills involved, along with a chance to make connections with potential employers looking for motivated and interested potential employees.

Dave Pristupa, who has a long history in Caribou County, including his current role on Grace’s Planning and Zoning Commission, is the primary point person for the veterans’ part of the program.  As a result of his tireless efforts, a group of veterans were on hand at the combine to receive new sheds, built and finished by students from around the region.  Each shed is also outfitted with a plaque created by students from Gooding, and topped with a flag pole.  

Heather Hendren and counselor Walt Eiman brought seven students from North Gem to the Combine, which is an impressive percentage of the school’s total student population of 38.  “We thought it sounded like an amazing idea when they told us about it, and it definitely turned out to be!”  Hendren said.  “We try to give the kids at our school the best opportunities possible for their future,” Eiman added.  Based on the enthusiasm of the students, it seems to have been a
good bet.

Vo Ag teacher and Football Coach Colter Evans brought his own 20 or so students from Soda Springs High.  The students spent the first day of the combine in a number of practical hands-on sessions related to various aspects of the construction industry.  

Each student was initially given a bucket full of tolls and equipment, and then divided up into randomized groups and assigned a lead builder who was in charge of directing them through the construction process for the sheds.  On the first day of the Combine, students were taken through a number of stations related to activities such as flooring, framing, equipment use, and so on.  After a night in Pocatello to recoup, they started bright and early Thursday morning working toward the completion of the sheds.  

Throughout the process, students had the opportunity to ask questions about the construction tasks involved, as well as network with many of the potential employers on hand.  The busy parking lot area was a hive of activity, as students all worked together to prepare and put together the solidly built sheds that would eventually be moved by Denny’s Towing to the home locations the veterans’ homes were located.  

The veterans themselves represented many of the branches of service, and spanned from a number who served during the Vietnam era to those from the more recent Global War On Terror.  Each of them was presented with a commemorative plaque, and thanked for their service by the assembled group included Stephens, a veteran himself. 

This was the first year for most of the participants involved.  Schools around the southeast Idaho area were contacted by Aimee Harrison-Quinton, who visited many administrators and presented the idea to them as a way to involve their students in a unique and valuable training camp.  At the end of the search, students from Pocatello and Highland High School, TERO, Sho-Ban, Bear Lake High School, North Gem, and Soda Springs joined with volunteer contractors from the BSA and elsewhere in a large sectioned off area of the Home Depot parking lot where the construction projects came together.  

While the weather has been on the cold side ever since spring officially started, Thursday and Friday broke the trend with temperatures in the 70s.  Although it never became oppressively hot, it was sunny enough that working out in the sun all day brought on a few sunburns by the end of Friday afternoon when the tired students headed back home for a well-deserved rest.  

“The Kids at SSHS are highly aware of the need for skilled trade workers and they are aware of the financial benefits related to these careers,” Colter Evans said, recapping the experience.  “These kids have gotten job opportunities, and more importantly the chance to recognize our veterans that have made all this possible.”   In terms of the spirit of service and community engagement on display, Evans added, “Seeing the trade industry community come together and help kids and teach them skills that will be valuable for their entire life is amazing.”

North Gem students that participated in the Combine included Kaly Foster, Aly Reed, Casey Hill, Katelyn Whiting, Luke Rindlisbaker, Jack Perry, and Mercedez Mabey.  

Soda Springs was represented by Braxten Winder, Mark Liechty, Miley Dock, Kaden Miles, Kaden Harrison , Kacey Allen, Dakota Billman, Lexy Sturm, Alicia Perkins, Payton Koller, Ryker Hemert, Kaden Maughan, Matt Perkins, Ashton Call, Hayden Koller, Max White, Aiddin Cantrell .