BRANDON BLACKFORD WELDING COMPETITION

4/28/25

The Fifth Annual Brandon Blackford Memorial Welding Competition was held at Olney Central College on Friday.  Students from Richland County, Fairfield Community, Red Hill, Newton Community, Edwards County and Hutsonville high schools competed for scholarships and prizes during the event held at the West Richland Center in Noble.

Winning First Place was Elliot Kessler of the Clay City High School.  Second Place went to Brayden Hale of the Flora High School, and Third Place went to Dirks Weiler of the Richland County High School.

The students received Lincoln welding hoods, donated by Lincoln Electric, which are valued at between $120 and $350. Scholarships for the winners were made possible by the Brandon Blackford Scholarship Fund.  Brandon's family also provided T-shirts for the event.