Jim Dillin is the Mauston High School principal. He’s at the Juneau County Fair this week showcasing the hard work and talent of his students. The tech ed department has built their second tiny house as part of their curriculum to prepare for building with Habitat for Humanity.
The department is raffling off the house and other prizes until Sept. 24, when the winning ticket will be pulled at the Mauston homecoming game. He says this project brings the community together with pride for the students.
As Wisconsin faces a workforce shortage, especially in the trades, Mauston High School is working to fill that need for community businesses. The town recently passed a referendum to expand the technical education program in the district with a machinist and mechanics program.
Instructor Bryon Hoehn says he’s seeing increased demand from students, as well, for more tech ed classes. Hoehn is at the Juneau County Fair this week showcasing a homemade smoker his students made. It is part of a raffle to raise funds for the tech ed department’s projects.
The Juneau County Fair is home to the Mauston FFA Chapter’s largest fundraiser — the shake stand!
Beth Babcock is the Mauston agriculture instructor and FFA advisor. She is looking forward to a school year showcasing the everchanging field of the science of agriculture in her new building addition. She offers courses on aquaponics, meat processing, natural resources, horticulture and animal sciences. Three of her courses are accredited by Western Technical College and Mid-State Technical College.
