Great Plains College raises over $41,000 at the 12th annual Carhartts & Caviar Welding Showcase

Great Plains College was excited to welcome a sold-out crowd the Carhartts & Caviar Welding Showcase and Auction on March 7 to raise funds for the Welding program and scholarship fund. The college is pleased to report the event raised over $41,000 this year, making it one of the most successful events since its start 12 years ago.

From indoor and outdoor furniture pieces to one-of-a-kind metal wall art, the college’s Welding students, their instructor, alumni and local businesses came together to create 10 unique pieces that were auctioned off at the event.

“This event has become an important part of the Welding program; it gives students a unique chance to practice their skills and work in teams to build custom pieces that they can showcase to family, friends and future employers,” said Jared Mckenzie, Welding instructor at Great Plains College. “While we’ve been running this event for more than a decade, we’re still blown away by the sold-out crowds, alumni and sponsors that continue to show up in support of the college and our students.”

The top selling lot of the evening was the living room furniture set created by Sandhills Welding and alumni Riley Hughes and Justin Bos, which was sold for $3,700.

Close seconds were a summer fun golf and vacation package for $3,200 and an outdoor patio set for $1,900. A highlight from this year’s event was the auction of instructor Jared

Mckenzie’s time to create a custom piece designed in collaboration with the winner bidder, which sold for $1,400. In total, the live auction raised $16,800.

“An event like this doesn’t survive for 12 years without unwavering support from sponsors and the community. We can’t thank everyone enough for continuing to support the college, our Welding program and scholarship fund year-after-year,” said Brad Mahon, president & CEO at Great Plains College. “We hope everyone who attended enjoyed a great evening of food, drink and metal art. We look forward to seeing you again for the 13th annual Carhartts and Caviar event on March 6, 2025.”

Great Plains College would like to again thank all of the sponsors that made this year’s event possible, including the presenting sponsor S3 Group Ltd. and hospitality sponsor, City of Swift Current.