Topeka high schoolers seeking trade jobs get hands-on career day experience

TOPEKA (KSNT) - High school students in the local area are getting a hands-on introduction to trade jobs in Topeka.

The Topeka Area Building Association (TABA) hosted 'Build My Future Topeka' career day Tuesday. It gives students options to enter the workforce without going to college.

Young people got to interact with experts in various jobs in the trade industry. They also got to give the equipment and machinery a try.

"It's really neat," said local high schooler Gavin Smith. "It's a good opportunity to have to see what you can do past high school and into college."

The association is emphasizing the importance of getting more young people involved in this career.

"The average age is 60-years-old for a construction worker," CEO of the TABA Katy Nelson said. "And that's across the country, so we've got to start getting these kids interested now."

While this event was a great educational opportunity, students got to have some fun as well.

"They had this one thing where you shove a thing down the tube, and you pull it back up," said local high schooler Winston Makin. "I lost the first time I did it, and then I won the second time I did it."

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