At Home Under the Helmet

Jacob Baughcum is a great example of how quickly a high school student can discover a promising career path through training in the skilled trades. In his case, he enrolled in Franklin County High School’s Metals program as a sophomore, landed a Work Based Learning (WBL) job as a welder, and now is eyeing a future as bright as the sparks that fly from his torch.

Jacob works for Stovall Machine Products in Lavonia, where he puts in half-days during the schoolyear and works full-time in summers, raking in wages that far exceed the typical fast-food and retail jobs held by many teenagers.

Jacob decided to try instructor Jake Segars’ program at his father’s suggestion. He originally had designs on a college wrestling career, but he changed direction when Segars, he says, “told me I don’t have to go to college and sit in a classroom to succeed.”

“Jacob is a uniquely driven young man,” says Segars (pictured at right with Jacob). “He enjoys working with his hands and is unafraid of a 12-hour workday. He has great potential to thrive as a welder/ fabricator in the construction industry. From the moment I shared my experience in pipe welding and pipe fitting and the benefits of what it could do for somebody, he immediately took an interest in pursuing a career in that industry.”

With Segars’ wise counsel in mind, Jacob says “everything changed.” His plan now is to attend a technical college for more welding instruction, while continuing to work as much as possible. Wherever he lands after that, he’ll have a great head start, thanks to his experience with Stovall Machine Products.

“When I first started, I did a lot of brackets,” Jacob recalls.  “I did that the first few months. After that, I got to build some tables. I’ve built conveyor belts and components for forklifts. And I’ve done a lot of repairs.”

Jacob enjoys the opportunity to immerse himself in every welding job he takes on. It’s just him, the torch, and the metal.

“I think it was honestly, just, I was alone. There wasn’t anybody bothering me,” he says, describing what he found alluring about his craft. “I like trying to perfect what I’m doing, trying to be the best that I can be at it. I enjoy being able to do something a lot of people can’t do. Now I can get to the point where I envision the [end result] from the blueprint. I like to see what I can make after I see it on a piece of paper.”