NCTA Advanced Welding Students Connect Classroom Learning with Industry
GOTHENBURG, Neb. — Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture students took “learn by doing” beyond the classroom on Oct. 1 as the Advanced Welding class traveled to WearParts in Gothenburg for an inside look at welding in the agricultural industry.
During the visit, students learned about WearParts’ hard-surfacing processes used on tillage equipment, including cultivator sweeps and disks. The experience gave students an opportunity to see how the welding techniques they practice at NCTA are applied in a commercial setting and to put those techniques to use alongside industry professionals.
NCTA Agricultural Mechanics faculty member Dan Stehlik said this marks the fifth time students have visited WearParts. He said one of the most valuable parts of the experience is hearing students recognize the connection between classroom instruction and what they see in the workplace.
“What I find really neat are the comments from students when they recognize the welding and heating procedures we emphasize in class being used in the actual welding process,” Stehlik said.
“They hear many of the same points we teach them being emphasized by professionals in the industry.”
Students also had the opportunity to connect with NCTA alumnus Eric Grimes, who graduated in May 2025 with an Associate of Applied Science in Agricultural Production Systems with an emphasis in Agricultural Equipment Management. Grimes now works as a welder at WearParts.
“NCTA prepared me really well for the career I have today,” Grimes said. “I took several welding classes, and those especially helped me learn torch welding. Before NCTA, I had never used a torch.”
Grimes said the experience he gained at NCTA helped him take advantage of an opportunity to advance after joining WearParts.
“After I graduated, I started out operating a manual loader, and when a torch position opened up, they asked if I was interested,” Grimes said. “Because of the experience I gained at NCTA, I was able to step into that role and pick up the skills much faster.”
The WearParts visit is one example of NCTA’s “learn by doing” approach, connecting classroom and laboratory instruction with real-world applications. Experiences with industry partners also give students opportunities to explore careers, meet professionals in their fields, and see where the skills they are developing can take them after graduation.
Students interested in beginning their own NCTA experience can apply for free through the end of October using the application fee waiver code Aggies.
The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) in Curtis is a two-year institution within the University of Nebraska system, dedicated to developing the next generation of agricultural professionals and veterinary technicians. NCTA offers specialized programs in Animal Science, Agronomy, Ag Equipment, Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Education, Equine Industry Management, and Veterinary Technology, all grounded in a practical, career-focused approach to learning.