Still Building America—An unusual interest leads to a career

Brian Tarter is a 21-year-old fabricator from Kentucky. As a high school junior, he and a few friends found a unique way to have fun and learn some new skills: lawnmower derbies.

“It was a cheap and oddly satisfying hobby to a teenager” Brian said.

While experimenting and going through the typical trials and errors, he started welding cages for the machines. “I’m not gonna lie,” he said. “I’d never heard of lawnmower derbies so I ‘YouTubed’ it. Not only could I see where it would be great fun, I also could see where protective cages would come in handy. That is, if you want to maintain brain function into your post-teen years. The collisions are sometimes vicious enough to flip the lawnmowers over!”

Brian used a basic buzz box and 6011 rod to do the fab work. “I absolutely fell in love with staring at the pretty light, so to speak.”

Through his own research and a lot of hood time he taught himself how to weld. He’s now been welding for five years, and has done it professionally for three. He works for Bowling Green Machine and Welding, where his job entails a lot of MIG welding carbon steel, some aluminum, and a lot of mild and stainless steel stick welding.

“My favorite part of my job is waking up every day and experiencing a different welding task.”

Brian is self-motivated and likes to challenge himself constantly to grow as a welder and a fabricator. He feels “blessed” to work in a field and achieve an understanding of it that not all can relate to.

“As a future goal I plan to share my knowledge with others who carry the same passion as myself. I plan to work and to earn my name as a welder, and to climb the ladder in this company and be a successful man in this industry.”

I asked Brian what he would tell young men and women who would like to get into the trades themselves. He said, “Find someone with experience and knowledge, pick their brains, experiment, and challenge themselves to become the best they can be.”

Solid advice.

All images courtesy of Josh Welton.