What would you do if you were a trailer manufacturer and had four extra trailers sitting unused on your lot? That’s what the owners and management team at Big Bubba’s asked themselves when they were moving to another location and still had four unbuilt trailers sitting around without a destination. After brainstorming, they realized that instead of taking extra time to build them out and then having to move them fully completed, they could donate the ATV-style trailers to local high schools.

After all, Big Bubba’s believes there is a real need for more technicians like welders in the region, and they want to encourage more students to pursue technical careers. Plus, the company has a personal connection to the schools in the area, and they want to support the local community.

Roy, Bonneville, Fremont, and Weber High Schools will each receive one of the 7’ x14’ trailers, on the condition that the trailers will be used for each school’s welding programs. Big Bubba’s’ goal is to incentivize all trade training programs in the schools, but particularly in welding. Building the trailers will force these students to creatively use their welding and other technical skills to put them together. Once they’re completed, the schools can sell those trailers to put the money back into their programs.

Big Bubba’s’ donation was made in March, with the hopes that the trailers will be completed and available to showcase at the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Convention in May. Chad Marriott, a CTE Coordinator for Weber County, believes that this convention—an event for educators, industry leaders, and policymakers to come together and discuss the future of technical education—is a great way to showcase the hard work that these students have put into developing their welding skills.

While reflecting on the donation and the CTE Convention, Marriott stated, “As educators we are trying to provide a better education for our students, which will thus turn into a brighter future for them. We believe that this generous donation will assist the students in gaining hands-on experience, and help our students become more valuable as they enter the workforce.”

The trailers could cost around $2,000 each, and all the money that is made from their sales will go back into the program. The donation of the trailers was a practical thing, and it was done to support the local community and encourage more students to consider technical careers.

Here at Weber County, we offer Bubba and his company Big Bubba’s, a hearty thanks for this generous donation to our community, and for inspiring the next generation of tradespeople and entrepreneurs to gain necessary skills for their future endeavors.