Missouri High School Students Learn Valuable Trade Skills by Building Homes in their Community

MARSHFIELD, MO (Nov. 15, 2022) – Students at Marshfield R-1 School District in Southwest Missouri are putting their knowledge to the test. The high school’s trade program gives students real world experience in building design and construction by teaching them how to build homes for families in the Marshfield area.

“One of the focuses of this program is getting students ready for life beyond high school, as a traditional four-year college is not every student’s path,” said Jarod Olson, a building trade teacher at Marshfield High School. “We are just trying to expose them to other career paths, and they really love this hands-on experience.”

Marshfield High’s most recent build is an 1,800-square-foot home, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Thirty-six students spent time designing and building the home, which runs on propane.

Local propane supplier Brooks Gas Company works with the high school’s trade program to integrate propane systems and appliances into these student building projects. The program’s most recent home project includes a stove, fireplace, furnace, tankless water heater, and a hardwired backyard grill—all of which run on propane.

Not only are Marshfield students gaining valuable skills for potential future careers, but by incorporating propane into the home, they’re also learning how to work with a clean, reliable energy source. According to the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), propane is a low-carbon alternative fuel with the versatility to power a wide variety of residential and commercial applications.

“Propane’s clean, efficient operation helps reduce emissions in major systems like space and water heating, for example,” said Bryan Cordill, director of residential and commercial business development at PERC. “Notably, using propane produces approximately 43 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than using an equivalent amount of electricity generated from the U.S. grid.”

The program adds value to the community by building concession stands and other small projects the school district needs. Administrators find that students who have gone through the program are more likely to stay in the community and use the trade skills they learned at Marshfield High.

“This program is a great opportunity for students to learn about the different trade occupations involved in the construction industry,” said Cordill. “To learn these skills at a young age and get the chance to explore clean energy options like propane, gives them a head start on their future careers.”

To learn more about the benefits of building with propane, visit Propane.com.

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Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programs and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry. For more information, visit Propane.com.