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Local manufacturers honored; ‘Mini Manufacturing World’ program expands to more area schools
Summary
Kruger Family Industries and partners received the Department of Workforce Development 'Champion in Action' award and described growth of their 'Mini Manufacturing World' program, which has expanded from pilot camps to plans to serve full sophomores classes and multiple regional campuses.
Kruger Family Industries and a coalition of area manufacturers and Madison College presented the Sauk County Board with details of "Mini Manufacturing World," a hands‑on program meant to introduce students to manufacturing careers. The Workforce Development Board awarded the group a 2024 "Champion in Action" award for the program.
Todd Spencer, representing Kruger Family Industries, told supervisors the curriculum evolved from small pilot camps to a program that will serve 150 students in Portage High School and is being discussed for expansion across other districts, including Sauk Prairie, Reedsburg and Wisconsin Dells. "Our number one mission is to encourage youth to go into manufacturing," Spencer said, describing a mentor‑driven, station‑based curriculum covering 12 functional manufacturing areas including engineering, HR, IT and quality.
Partners attending the meeting included Shelley Eisen (Flambeau), Jacob Hockley (Milwaukee Valve), Ben Greese (Steel/Primix Plastics), and Sean Markworth (Madison College). Presenters credited Madison College for providing campus rooms and praised the program’s debrief model that helps students reflect on teamwork and real‑world tradeoffs. Presenters also noted awards from the Rural Community College Alliance and requests to present the program model to other community college presidents.
The group said they are exploring ways to scale the program (including potentially running full 8th‑grade classes) and continuing to recruit mentors from local firms. Board members congratulated the recipients and thanked them for local workforce development efforts.
