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Kahler adds $25K for construction trades academy

FAIRMONT — Kahler Automation is giving Fairmont Area Schools $25,000 for the school’s proposed construction trades academy.

The money will go toward an 80-foot by 100-foot building on the south side of the high school to house the academy.

The donation follows a $100,000 gift from CHS Inc. to the school for the same purpose.

Superintendent Joe Brown said he received an email from Wayne Kahler, board chairman of Kahler Automation, asking if the firm could help. Brown met with the board of directors at Kahler this week.

“Basically, I reviewed the history of what we’ve done in the last nine years in terms of reinstating our vocational programs,” Brown noted.

The school has an agriculture academy, welding academy, ProStart culinary arts program and a new automotive academy. It is now in the process of raising money so it can put up a construction trades building in the spring.

Kahler is a Fairmont High School graduate and has lived in Fairmont all his life. He began his career by working as an electrician.

“This program is close to my heart as far as giving students an opportunity to experience the construction trades and decide whether it’s a career for them,” he said.

Kahler has taken an interest in the district’s resurgence in vocational programs.

“I know that when Joe puts his mind to something, it gets done,” he said. “When I saw that it had been initiated and was a real program, the whole board of Kahler Automation sat down to talk about it, and it was unanimous to support it.”

“The entire community will benefit from this, not only students, but Habitat for Humanity will get some homes built. It’s a real positive thing happening in Fairmont,” Kahler said.

Fairmont Area Schools plans to partner with Habitat for Humanity, which hopes to build five houses over the next five years, with students doing the work.

“Our goal is to raise $825,000 so we can fund this program,” Brown explained.

He is in the process of sending out grant requests to other companies. He has reached out to nine just this week. Brown said the school would take donations in the form of money or materials, including tools.

“Our whole goal in this to provide skilled workers for the state of Minnesota and for the region,” he said. “The baby boomers are retiring at a very fast rate and we need to replace 250,000 (in Minnesota) in the next two years. We’re trying to provide students an option. They can either go to a two-year school, four-year school, armed services, work directly at a local business or they can learn a skill and join the trades.”

The construction trades academy will not just be for Fairmont students but also available to students in the area. Brad Johnson, the district’s woodshop teacher, will lead the program. Brown said the district plans to partner with local businesses after building the houses since they will still require electrical and plumbing work.

“This is a nice way to get students involved in our local businesses,” Brown said. “We’re so honored as a district to have the support of Kahler Automation. They stepped forward to offer this opportunity and I really appreciate it.”

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