ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Welding Rodeo - Marinette Campus
ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ is hosting our Second Annual Welding Rodeo! This Marinette campus event is FREE and open to the public.
The 2025 theme is Hook, Line & Arc.
Bring your fishing passion to life by crafting metal art inspired by rods, reels, hooks and the thrill of the catch – where creativitey sparks with every weld.
The day-long event includes:
- Welding competitions - see below for more details!
- STEM career fair with local industry employers, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ staff
- Live auction of finished sculptures to support ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ scholarships
- Family activities, food, and music
- Explore Day activities for local high school students
Schedule of Events
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
- 7:00-7:30 a.m.: Safety Meeting for ALL welding competition participants
- 8:00 a.m.: Welding competition begins!
- 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: Career fair
- 11:30-12:00 p.m.: Mandatory 30-minute lunch break for participants
- 12:30-4:30 p.m.: Welding competition continues; public viewing
- 3:00-6:00 p.m.: Food trucks and vendors
- 4:00-4:30 p.m.: Conclusion of competition and sculpture judging
- 4:30-5:00 p.m.: Winners announced and prizes given
- 5:00 p.m.: Live sculpture auction
Competition Overview & Rules
Welding teams (up to 4 welders) have 8 hours to build a sculpture from donated scrap metal materials. Sculptures must incorporate a designated theme with a maximum 5’ x 5’ x 5’ finished size.
A panel of three judges including welding instructors, artists, and industry professionals will judge the completed sculptures based on:
- Aesthetics
- Workmanship
- Durability and safety
- Appropriateness for public display
Prizes awarded for each category – amateur (high school and college), professional, and corporate team welders – to be announced at 4:30 p.m. on the day of the event.
Sculpture Auction Details
The sculptures produced during the contest are the property of ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ and will be auctioned to the highest bidder on the day of the event. The proceeds will benefit welding scholarships and event sustainability.
- Completed sculptures from welding rodeo will be sold to the highest bidders.
- Maximum dimensions of each sculpture are 5 feet wide by 5 feet high by 5 feet deep.
- Auction is open to the public.
- All money raised will benefit ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ welding student scholarships.
- Payment due at time of auction.
- All sculptures need to stay on campus at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Sturgeon Bay for one week following the event.
- Winning bidders are responsible for picking up and transporting the sculptures by contacting Michelle Rutues, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ event coordinator, at michelle.rutues@nwtc.edu or 920-272-9459.
Employer Career Fair & Donation Info
If you are an employer interested in attending the Career Fair or donating scrap metal, supplies, or sponsoring the welding rodeo please contact Michelle Rutues: michelle.rutues@nwtc.edu or 920-272-9459 or use the links below.
Call for Artists & Artist Advisors
The Welding Rodeo combines metal arts, hands-on welding, and live competition, creating a unique opportunity for artists to engage with the public and the trades. We are currently seeking artists to:
- Sell their work in our Metal Arts Market
- Serve as paid Artist Advisors to competition teams
- Or participate in both roles.
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: Friday, August 23, 2025
- Notification of Selection: Friday, September 6, 2025
The Welding Rodeo: Experiences in STEM Education is sponsored by the Department of Navy, Office of Naval Research under ONR award number N00014-24-1-2151. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Naval Research.