PETREX provided the aluminum.

Schrecongost Drive Shaft did the machining.

And two students at Warren County Career Center did the welding.

“We have a pretty major water line expansion going on at the Fairgrounds,” Fair Board member Kent Sanden said. “This is replacing an old manifold.”

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry A collaborative effort has brought a new water distribution manifold to the Warren County Fairgrounds. Pictured (from left) are: Warren County Career Center Welding Instructor Nate McNett, Welding Student Jake Alcorn, Welding Student Caleb McMillen, Fair Board Member Kent Sanden, Jim Schrecongost of Schrecongost Drive Shaft, and PETREX Production Manager Jeffrey Rulander, who is also a Fair Board member.

The previous manifold was made of steel and lasted 50 years. The aluminum won’t rust and could last “indefinitely.”

Water from the Fair’s well will enter the manifold and be distributed via any of eight different outlets through almost 1,000 feet of new water line.

The project was something of a rush and the manifold could be installed as soon as next week, Sanden said.

Welders Jake Alcorn and Caleb McMillen did the work of attaching the machined parts to the body of the manifold.

Those welds will have to hold up for a long time and the students had to ensure that they are water-tight, Alcorn said.

“We got some good practice on aluminum,” McMillen said. “It’s not something we do as commonly in here.”

“We’re definitely low on aluminum,” welding instructor Nate McNett said. “This was a very good time to do this. We certainly appreciate the material. It’s beautiful material.”

“Some of the material was donated by PETREX,” said production manager Jeffrey Rulander, who is also a Fair Board member. “We’re looking to expand that and continue to donate to the career center for the students to practice and take their weld tests.”

The project was a real-world learning experience. “The students got to manufacture an actual product that’s going to be used,” Sanden said.

He said the Fair expects to have more projects for career center students in the future.

“It was a collaborative effort,” McNett said. “We got together. We made a plan. We all played to each others’ strengths. Each piece that we had to weld in was machined ahead of time. That made our job easy. It made for a quick turnaround time and very good results.”

“I donated all the machine work and the fittings,” Jim Schrecongost said. “These boys did the rest. They did a fine job.”

“Those young men ought to be very proud,” Sanden said.