Tri Star Career Compact’s welding students and their instructor, Todd Smith, recently received Mercer County’s 2017 Friend of 4-H Award. The welding students, with the help of Smith designed and constructed new frames for the 4-H booths in which projects are displayed at the fair. The new frames are easier to set-up and tear down and will be used in the Junior Fair Building. Elizabeth Guggenbiller, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development presented the award at the annual 4-H banquet on October 1st. Guggenbiller expressed her appreciation to Todd Smith for his leadership and skills with this project and stated she felt this was a great opportunity and partnership between the 4-H program and Tri Star and the welding program. Pictured in the welding classroom receiving the award from Guggenbiller (right front row) are: (left to right) Welding Instructor Todd Smith, welding seniors Thomas Ungruhn (ML), Harrison Kaup (FR), Evan Vogel (SM), Travis Ruble (SM), Kolyn Wiehe (CE), and Conner Trogdlon (SM).