by Mari Radtke
The MMCRU Industrial Technology started at a fast pace in 2017 and continues to grow. Matt Hansen headed up the program since its inception 7 years ago. He said, “Our Industrial Tech program now encompasses, I think this semester, 86% of the student body takes an industrial tech class.” That comes to 180+ students a day coming through the Industrial Tech buildig. The junior high school industrial tech program at the Remsen facility helps feed the high school program. Girls are as active and interested in the programs now as boys. Hansen noted that there are currently more girls than boys in the advanced cabinet making class.

Nick Long was brought on board to teach construction trades in 2020. Long taught at George-Little Rock for 5 years before coming to MMCRU. Construction trades includes cabinet making, architecture – anything to do with homebuilding. Hansen is primarily manufacturing. An hybrid class was developed taking hands-on skills from building to repairing. Long teaches a teaches a diesel mechanics course. Hansen created a machine works class. The dramatic success of the program had a down size. It ran out of space.
The new technology space is built where areas of the original elementary building once stood. The footings from the elementary gym and special education area were left and being used to support the new construction. Planned use of the new building is to house to programs in it. The diesel technology program will be in the north half of the building. A powerful partnership program between John Deere and MMCRU gives an added dimension for students to this program. The students get technician training at the school. The students can learn to do various computer testing and programming on the equipment or learn to replace parts. Following that they can take an internship with area AgriVisions. A few students have elected to go on to specialty schools to obtain John Deere tech programs. The programs are John Deere sponsored. Area businesses provide new and used equipment to the school for student learning.

The south half of the new structure will house the manufacturing trades/advanced manufacturing. Hansen believes MMCRU is the only western Iowa high school with a true machining trades program.
Everything built well begins with a set of drawings. The program has a computer lab and includes two 3D printers. One project that came from the 3D printer are the puzzle blocks. Those squares put together from precisly formed pieces were inspired by Lego blocks, according to Hansen, and look a little like a Rubik’s Cube. The lab also serves to set up directions for the machining. The advanced machining depends on giving the advanced machinery a good set of instructions. Welding is also a manufacturing process taught in the Industrial Tech program. A robotics class is also an option for students at MMCRU Industrial Tech.
Long created Intro Industrial Trades class. Hansen likens it to a freshman shop class. That class gives students exposure to construction, woodworking, welding manufacturing and a little bit of machine engineering. The concept is to give young learners help to focus their interests and skills into a specific trade.
Hansen discussed what he feels is a feature of the program’s success. Part of the success is from giving the junior high kids exposure to the wide range of skills in industrial technology. He also credits some of that success to bringing successful graduates to talk with the students about their paths. Of course the industry partnerships developed not only give the students direction after school, but are incentivized to keep the MMCRU program with cutting edge tools and learning opportunities.
The Industrial Trades construction project at MMCRU is not a burden on taxpayers. Through industry partnerships across the state approximately $850,000 have been raised over about a year and a half to increase the teaching capacity and programs at MMCRU. About $50,000 is still expected to be needed for complete the project.