LAHARPE Seventy-two fledgling welders from across eastern Kansas descended upon the Regional Rural Technical Center in LaHarpe Friday for the schools second annual welding competition.
The event was hosted by Neosho County Community College, which offers the welding course in LaHarpe to area high-schoolers and collegians.
The level of competition was impressive, judge Paul Preston said afterward. Preston, who works as a business agent for a Wichita plumbers and pipefitters union, said several of the 72 competitors have bright futures in the welding industry if they want to continue in the field.