Even in silence, Madison County's Peyton Sartain keeps a beat as works on electrical wiring.  

"If the song has a good beat, I like it," he said. "So, in my head, I'm just trying to play a good beat." 

  

The music in Sartain's head is a winning tune. The rising Madison County High School senior recently won the Skills USA state championship in electrical construction wiring, along with first-place finishes in the state's Northeast and Southeast regional competitions. He then competed in June in the national Skills USA competition in Atlanta. 

"Being able to win regionals, I told myself, 'Hey, I'm actually better than what I originally thought I was,'" said Peyton. "It definitely builds confidence. By the time I got to nationals, I wasn't nervous, even though it was a lot more serious.” 

A MASSIVE EVENT 

In the national event, Peyton competed against 41 other state champions in the Georgia World Congress Center in the Skills USA Championships, the largest skill competition in the world, covering 1.79 million square feet, equivalent to 31 football fields or 41 acres. 

More than 6,000 students competed in 115 hands-on occupational and leadership competitions, including robotics, automotive technology, drafting, criminal justice, aviation maintenance, and public speaking. 

The aim is to prepare youth to be skilled and successful U.S. workers, and that message resonates with Georgia’s electrical wiring state champion. 

"The trades are what build the country," said Peyton, sitting in the Hardees in Danielsville and being interviewed about his experience. "We're in a building (Hardees) that wouldn't be here without the people in the trades. They are very important people. And there aren't enough people for trades. They're probably the most important jobs out there, but they don't get paid as near as much as they deserve." 

A BOOST FROM HIRESMART CARES 

Peyton got a boost from HireSmart Cares, a Madison County-based nonprofit that awarded him a $2,275 grant for his Skills USA registration and hotel costs. HireSmart aims to provide local youth with the knowledge, tools, and opportunities to succeed, and the organization funds a variety of initiatives to help support students like Peyton. 

"Our mission is equipping the next generation," said HireSmart Co-CEO Mark Lackey. "We decided we needed to get out into the community, get to know the needs, and find out how we can help."  

Peyton's wiring knowledge has already caught the attention of employers and earned him prize money for purchasing tools.  

Meanwhile, his MCHS construction teacher, Zach Carithers, said Peyton has made great strides in the past year. 

"At this point, he will take the plans and he can kind of roll with it," said Carithers. "His confidence level is sky high — not just in his ability but also socially. He has shown tremendous growth." 

PARTICIPANTS PUT TO THE TEST 

In the Skills USA wiring competition, contestants are tested based on the latest edition of the National Electric Code (NEC) standards, a conduit bending exercise, and hands-on installation of a conduit system, cabling system, and wiring devices.  

The participants work from drawings and specification sheets. Judging is based on general workmanship, the accuracy of layout and installation, and adherence to industry-safe practices.   

Conduit bending involves running a tube to protect and route electrical wiring from one receptacle box to another. Sometimes, obstacles are in the way of the conduit.  

"You have to know how to bend those angles and how they get around obstacles," he said.  

The following day, participants had to install a conduit system.  

Peyton explained the challenge: "I had multiple different circuits that had a wire from a panel. The panels were where the main power goes into and then the breakers go to the circuits, and I had to bend a conduit from there to a junction box that all the other circuits go into that box. In that junction box, you had a whole bunch of different wires, and you had to figure out which one needed to go to where. And there's plywood you had to cut holes into, and you had to run wire behind the plywood, which is kind of hard to do because usually when you wire it's just open." 

WATCHING PEYTON SUCCEED 

Peyton's parents, Matt and Sandy Sartain, watched from the spectators' area as their son put his skills to the test. Matt is a 30-year electrician employed by Escoe Industrial Contractors. 

Peyton's father said his son "never gives up."  

"Even if he comes across a problem, he just works around the problem and he never quits," said Matt. "That means a lot. A lot of men just give up. He never gives up. He makes me very proud."  

Sandy said Peyton's electrical wiring ability has brought him out of his shell socially. She said he used to be extremely bashful about speaking, but now he's willing to give public presentations. She also praised Carithers for his willingness to work with Peyton and develop his skills.  

"I mean, it's summer break, and he took a week with my child to come here to Atlanta to compete," said Sandy. "Not just anybody will do that." 

Carithers said other Madison County students want to participate in Skills USA after seeing what Peyton has done.  

  

"We got four more students join after state that want to compete next year," he said. "More students are wanting to get involved seeing the success of another student. It's pretty cool. This event also shows the industry support and the need in the industry. Companies are willing to donate time, materials, and workers for these kids."  

Broad River College and Career Academy CEO Paul "Bo" Boykin was also on hand to cheer on Peyton at the national Skills USA competition in Atlanta. He noted the huge investment from U.S. businesses in the event. Industry leaders from 850 companies, trade associations and unions participated. Industry support of the SkillsUSA Championships is valued at over $36 million in donated time, equipment, cash, and material. More than 1,200 industry judges and technical committee members participated this year. 

"What's really special is the amount of industry support," said Boykin. "You have so many employers who are part of this because they see the need to get students excited about these career possibilities and to let them know that there are great opportunities out there for them. Seeing these employers' heavy involvement here shows you that it's badly needed. And it gets kids excited. And they see the connection to the real world." 

A CLEAR CAREER PATH 

Peyton plans a career in electrical wiring. He's not sure exactly how that will look. Will he start his own business? Perhaps. He's considering pursuing a business degree. 

The rising senior said he's glad he participated in Skills USA. He nearly didn't. 

"Mr. C (Zach Carithers) practically begged me to join Skills USA," he said. "I wasn't going to do it. I didn't want to stay after school and we were building a house. I was like, 'I don't know if I have time to do this,' but he convinced me to do it, and I'm glad I did it. I learned a lot. It was good." 

When it comes to electrical wiring, Peyton Sartain doesn't miss a beat. 

For more information about Skills USA, visit skillsusa.org. Anyone with a suggestion on how HireSmart can help local youth develop the skills they need to succeed can email Info@HireSmartCares.org. 

While the monuments of Washington D.C. stand as testaments to past leaders, Devin Self is already laying the groundwork to become a leader in his own right — in the poultry industry. 

This 2024 Madison County High School grad has his eyes on the prize — a future in poultry science. And he's not wasting any time. Devin just returned from a whirlwind trip to the nation's capital, where he dove headfirst into the national FFA Leadership Conference. It wasn't just a chance to see the sights but an opportunity for Devin to sharpen the leadership skills he'll need in the coming years. 

Devin's trip was made possible with a $1,375 grant from HireSmart Cares to help cover his expenses. HireSmart provides tools, teaching, training, and technology for U.S. youth seeking careers in agriculture and hands-on trades.  

"The grant really helped me in the fact that it was able to allow me to attend this conference," he said. "Without that grant, I probably would have not been able to attend." 

Devin said he enjoyed the sightseeing.  

"We toured around the city, checking out all the monuments and seeing how the leaders impacted everyone they served," said Devin. 

The conference also included intensive leadership training through group sessions where participants focused on leadership activities and learned how to develop communities with each other. One lesson particularly stood out to Devin. 

"No matter what you're going through, you deserve to be treated equally and served equally. Just because somebody's different, you don't have to treat them differently. We're all in this together to accomplish one certain goal." 

Devin's journey into the poultry industry began his sophomore year when his agriculture teacher introduced him to the FFA poultry judging team.  

"At first, I didn't think much of it," said Devin. "But I still really enjoyed it, and I thought this would be something I could continue doing." 

By his junior year, Devin's passion for poultry had grown. His team made it to the state contest and eventually to the national contest.  

"That's really when I realized that this is something bigger than what I thought it was, something that I could really make something for myself, and something that I actually really love." 

This fall, Devin plans to pursue a degree in Poultry Science at the University of North Georgia in Gainesville. When asked about his career aspirations within the industry, he said, "If I had to pick one, it'd probably be a poultry vet or just a small animal vet in general." 

Devin credits the Madison County FFA chapter for nurturing his interests and providing opportunities.  

"What really stands out to me about the Madison County FFA, what makes them special, is how they make sure that everybody is involved and has equal opportunity to do what they want and what they love," he said. "It's really crucial that you start figuring stuff out in high school and that you have a solid community that you go with throughout high school. I feel like FFA at Madison County really has helped accomplish both those goals." 

The conference provided Devin with networking opportunities that span the country.  

"When I was up there, I met everybody from California to Missouri," he said. "My roommates were actually from Oklahoma, Iowa, and Missouri. Being with people from the different parts of the nation really allowed me to form connections that I can use later in my career." 

Devin offered the following advice to those considering a career in agriculture: "Be brave. Don't be scared to chase your dreams, because you miss 100% of the shots you never take, and the only thing you have to fear is fear itself." 

Click here to support HireSmart Cares and its workforce development initiatives, which help young adults like Devin pursue their career goals. To suggest additional ways HireSmart Cares can support U.S. career development, email info@hiresmartcares.org. 

If Christopher Wagnon says Caterpillar Inc. is "like family," he means it literally. The 2024 Madison County High School graduate recently joined his mom and dad, Crystal and Nathan, working for the construction equipment manufacturer. 

"I just knew I was going to be doing a blue-collar job," said Christopher. "When my dad first showed me how to weld, I was pretty fast at learning it, and I knew it was a good career to get into in terms of job positions and money, so I kind of figured I was gonna' go down that path." 

HireSmart Awards Grants to Construction Classes 

HireSmart Cares, which helps local youth with scholarships, grants for entrepreneurial ventures, funding for job skills programs, travel expenses, job preparedness training, and more, provided high-quality work boots for Christopher and 12 of his MCHS classmates who signed with companies right out of high school. The nonprofit also wrote checks for $250 for five Madison County seniors who signed with the U.S. armed forces after graduation.  

HireSmart aims to help youth find good-paying jobs after high school without taking on burdensome college debt. Christopher fits the mold of what the nonprofit seeks for others: a stable income immediately after graduation. 

HireSmart U.S. Career Assistance — Masi’s story 

Christopher began as an intern at Caterpillar in July 2023.  

"They had me welding tilt pins, which go on to the tilt towers, which are just like a giant trailer hitch," he said. "I was going to be going around and learning other stations, but we just didn't have enough people able to do what I was doing. So I was kind of stuck over there the entire time. But now I got done with orientation today, so I start my training again tomorrow, and then that's when they'll put me on the floor, and I'll just learn how to use the cranes and how to weld different spots and all sorts of things." 

Flight Plan for Success: HireSmart Helps JROTC Launch Drone Program 

Christopher said he began welding in ninth grade and that Madison County High School and the Broad River College and Career Academy prepared him well for his work with Caterpillar.  

"I think I was 14–15," he said. "I learned how to do flux core at first, and then after that, it took me two years to get into the metal fabrications class, and after that, we learned how to do stick welding, (metal inert gas) MIG welding, and some other stuff like carbon arc gouging and oxyacetylene (oxy-fuel welding)." 

Christopher said his dad is an engineer who helps with repairs and ensures efficient processes. His mom is a team leader who works with excavators.  

HireSmart Cares U.S. Career Assistance — Nate’s Story 

The recent graduate said welding is enjoyable. 

"It's pretty fun getting to mess around with it," he said. "It's pretty cool to see it actually fuse the metal together, able to just build stuff with it." 

Christopher said his ninth-grade supervised agricultural experience (SAE) project of building a trailer from scratch helped determine his path. 

"I got to mess around with welding like that, and it was kind of what catapulted me in this way, in this direction," he said.  

  

If you have a suggestion on initiatives to help more young people like Christopher find a path to success, email info@hiresmartcares.org. To read more about HireSmart Cares, click here. To support HireSmart Cares initiatives with a monetary donation, click here. 

Auston Bone sees more benefit in getting a paycheck right after high school than going the college route. 

"My advice to the younger generation is do it," he said. "You can make more money going to work after high school than going to college." 

The 2024 Madison County High School graduate was recognized at the school's recent "career signing day" for joining Custom Home Audio.  

"A good career to me is when you love what you do and make good enough money to not worry about what comes next or how you will pay for something, and one where you can do basically whatever you want to," he said. "It will help me get through life easier." 

As part of his accomplishment, Auston got a pair of quality work boots from HireSmart Cares, which aims to help youth like Auston find promising careers straight out of high school.  

The nonprofit provides scholarships, grants for job skills initiatives, coverage of travel and lodging expenses for career conventions, job preparedness training, and more, including work boots for Auston and 12 of his classmates during the recent Madison County High School and Broad River College and Career Academy signing day.  

HireSmart also provided $250 grants to five Madison County seniors who signed with the U.S. armed forces after graduation. 

Auston, 18, is the son of Davey and Michelle Bone. He has two sisters, Sarah and Paige. The recent graduate said Madison County High School instructors Josh Daniel and Zach Carithers were instrumental in helping him get "prepared for the real world."  

When he's not at work, Auston loves to fish and spend time with his friends, swim, go on road trips, spend time with his family, and " help out however I can." 

Auston said he started helping his uncle in the business during COVID, and "from there, I just grew and started to like it, so I stuck with it." 

"Some of my responsibilities with the company is to run service calls, try to provide as much help and explanation as I can to the customer with whatever we're doing, and try to do this neat and time efficiently as possible," he said. "It's been great so far. I've been able to go into so many unique houses, and I'm able to travel all over the country." 

To suggest how HireSmart can help more young people like Auston find a path to success, email info@hiresmartcares.org. To read more about HireSmart Cares, visit hiresmartcares.org. To support HireSmart Cares initiatives with a monetary donation, click here. 

What makes a resume stand out? How do you prepare for an interview, and what are good questions to ask a potential employer in a job interview? 

HireSmart Cares co-founders and CEOs Anne and Mark Lackey, who have created and run successful real estate and international staffing businesses, recently shared answers to those questions with students in Zach Carithers' Construction 3 class at Madison County High School, who will meet with representatives from various industries during the school's April 18 Career Day. 

HireSmart is a nonprofit dedicated to helping the next generation succeed through financial investments in agriculture education and workforce development initiatives, as well as teaching students about job preparedness, personal finance and entrepreneurship. 

"We're here to help you get a job," said Anne to the students. "That is our number one reason for being here." 

Anne noted that resumes aren't the place to tell a life story. Instead, their purpose is to secure an interview. They should be concise, include details on what makes the applicant special — such as promotions at previous work, stellar school attendance, extracurricular activities, or good grades — and provide clear instructions on contacting them.   

She also offered to review each of Carithers' students' resumes and urged them to be clear about what they're seeking and to prepare their resumes before Career Day. 

"When you are building your resume, you want to be clear about what you want so that you can communicate that," she said. 

Mark told students he started as a busboy at an International House of Pancakes, then earned a promotion to a backup cook position and continued to progress through the years, serving in executive roles and starting multiple successful businesses. He stressed the importance of demonstrating responsibility, initiative, and a strong work ethic in any position, whether entry-level or CEO. 

"What glory is there in that (serving as a busboy)?" he asked. "Not a lot, but I moved up their ladder, and it showed them that I took initiative. I was responsible. I showed up on time. That's what employers want. They want somebody who will show up on time and work hard." 

Anne advised students to arrive at least 20 minutes early to interviews, bring copies of their resumes, bring a pen and pad to take notes, and leave their cell phone in the car. 

"There's nothing that's going to happen within the hour and a half to two hours that you might be in an interview that is more important than the person that you're meeting with," she said, adding that mom or dad shouldn't come to the business during an interview either. 

The CEO emphasized respecting everyone, from the receptionist to the interviewer. 

"You may think, 'Well, she's just the receptionist. I don't need to be nice to her.' That is a wrong answer," Anne warned. You want to make sure that you are nice to everybody… My first real job was as a receptionist in a bank. Do you know that we didn't hire people who were rude to me? The first thing I did was report them to the director of HR and said they didn't have people skills." 

Anne encouraged the students to be in "interview mode" even before they get to the job site, since you don't know who you'll meet in traffic. That person you cut off in traffic could be the person scheduled to interview you. 

She told the students to stand up for any handshake, and then the Lackeys practiced firm handshakes with the class, emphasizing direct eye contact. She added details such as always putting your nametag on your right so that they can easily see your name when you shake hands with someone. 

"You want to carry yourself well and give them your full attention," she said. 

She said every interview has value, even if it's not your desired job, because it's great practice and helps sharpen your interviewing skills. Mark added that industry professionals talk to each other, and while a position might not be the right fit for you, an employer impressed with your resume and interview may refer you to another company seeking someone more in line with your goals. 

"Use it (the interview) as practice so that when you meet somebody that you're interested in, you're ready," he told the construction class. "It's like measuring twice and cutting once, right?" 

The Lackeys encouraged students to come prepared with questions for the interviewer and to focus on being more "interested than interesting." She said a person asking the right questions elevates their status in the interviewers' eyes. 

"You should come to an interview prepared with about three-to-five questions that you want to ask them," said Anne. "You could have written on your notepad in case you're nervous, but you should think about some of the things you would want to know. When you get those answers, if they resonate with you, you can weave them into your answers when they ask you questions." 

So, what are good questions to ask in a job interview? 

She suggested: Can you tell me a little bit about what's important to you as an employee? What can I expect in a typical day if I'm hired? What do you need to do to become successful here? Are you going to do additional training? Do you pay for certification? Do you pay for tools? 

"These are good logical questions that show that you're interested in the position, and it also tells you what your commitment might be should you go there," she said. "You're interviewing them almost as much as they're interviewing you." 

The Lackeys stressed the significance of maintaining commitments and open communication once hired. 

"Do what you say you're going to do," Anne said. "The easiest way to get fired from any job is to not do what you say you're going to do." 

Anne assured the class that they have many opportunities ahead of them. 

"You guys are sought after," she said. "Nobody here should really be having a hard time getting a job. But you want to make sure it's the right job." 

HireSmart Cares aims to help Madison County youth prepare for successful careers. Anyone with a proposal for grant funding for local ag education or workforce development initiatives, or anyone seeking a presentation to youth on job preparedness, personal finance or entrepreneurship can contact info@hiresmartcares.org with requests or suggestions. 

Four Madison County, Georgia students traveled to Indianapolis recently and walked away with the fifth-place plaque in the National FFA Poultry evaluation "Career Development Event" (CDE).  

"We all truly wanted it," said team member Isabelle Williams, who was named the high individual in the written exam. "We wanted to win, and we worked so much with each other that we knew what we were good at, what we struggled with, and how to help each other through challenges." 

Williams was joined by George Parham, Devin Self, and Joshua Black, who was named high individual in the shell egg grading for interior and exterior factors. 

Participants in the poultry CDE select live meat-type chickens for broiler breeding, evaluate and place live egg-type hens, and rate the finished product by evaluating and grading ready-to-cook carcasses and parts of chickens and turkeys. 

HireSmart U.S. Agricultural Assistance — Kaylee's Story 

The Madison County team members got a boost from HireSmart Cares, which helped cover their travel expenses. HireSmart assists the next generation of farmers in a variety of ways, including covering travel costs for students to agriculture-related competitions.  

HireSmart Cares recently donated $50,000 to the Madison County FFA to expand the high school ag barn, allowing more students who don't live on farms to raise livestock and learn career skills in ag.  

Williams, who is interested in becoming a large animal veterinarian, said poultry judging success is about "paying attention to the small details" and helping each other. 

"That's the big factor in poultry judging — picking out all the defects from various poultry products," she said. "We have to judge individually, but then we would all share our suggestions on ways to improve and avoid missing things." 

Williams said participation in ag activities helps youth understand all the work that goes into food production, which she said is often overlooked. 

HireSmart hopes to raise awareness of the need for a new generation of farmers. "No farms = No food" is a succinct message that strikes home for HireSmart co-founders Mark and Anne Lackey, who commit to doing whatever they can to support youth and their ag career development. 

If you support that aim, consider donating to HireSmart's ag initiative here. 

HireSmart Supports Top FFA Ag Communications Team in the U.S. 

Katie Carrouth and her teammates, Abbi Adams, Anna Moon, and Anna Kate Mathis, laugh at the video of their surprised faces when they learned that, "Yes!" they're the best in the nation. 

The Madison County FFA Ag Communications team earned first in the U.S. at the 96th Annual National FFA Convention and Expo.  

"All of us were so shocked, and since then, we've all re-watched the clip so many times, just laughing at our own expressions," said Carrouth. "It was super sweet to have that moment filmed so we can all remember it." 

Adams, who placed sixth overall in the individual competition, said the moment was intense. 

"To me, it felt we were the only people in the room," she said. "All of my senses were both heightened and subdued at the exact same moment. It was a feeling I had never felt before. When they announced the second-place team and we realized we had won, I remember a feeling of shock. It wasn't until we left the stage that my sobs began, and I realized my hands were numb from stress." 

The quartet got a boost from HireSmart Cares, a nonprofit focused on helping youth develop job skills, which provided grants for Madison County FFA members, including the ag communications team, to cover costs associated with the trip. 

A call to action: HireSmart Cares aims to help youth realize their potential    

A primary focus of HireSmart is encouraging youth involvement in agriculture, which involves spreading the word about career options and the relevance of ag in so many aspects of life. 

That's also the focus of ag communications teams — providing the public with a greater understanding of agriculture. 

Adams, a student at Wesleyan College majoring in English education and minoring in communications, said the importance of ag communications often goes overlooked. 

"Without agricultural communications, nobody would know anything relating to the agriculture industry," she said. "'Ag Comm' hopes to create advocacy and transparency. It is important for the future of the agriculture industry as it will help connect consumers to farms and major corporations." 

Carrouth, a singer/songwriter and music producer getting a Bachelor of Arts in Music at Georgia College and State University, said the agricultural communications focus in high school "allowed me to branch out and try more things that challenged me which has helped tremendously at college." 

HireSmart U.S. Agricultural Assistance — Kaylee's Story 

She wasn't raised on a farm, "so I always felt a bit left out of that sector," but she has relatives and peers in agriculture. 

"I saw the need for bridging the gap between non-traditional and traditional agriculturalists through activities of the FFA such as the agricultural communications CDE," said Carrouth.  

She added that reaching consumers to educate them about agriculture is "one of the most important things for the agriculture industry to focus on." 

Adams and Carrouth said the team's first-place finish in the U.S. was a byproduct of the companionship they felt as they worked toward a shared goal. 

"The four-person team dynamic is really special because it allows four separate approaches to creativity to be combined into one cohesive project," said Carrouth. "This competition is a lot of work and has many parts to complete, so having a team like ours is super important. As far as taking first place, I feel that it comes down to our passion for it. We all wanted to do well, so we put every ounce of effort we could into it. We are also very good friends, so teamwork skills came naturally." 

Adams said the "contest brought us closer than we ever imagined." 

"While we worked through every step of the way, we understand each other as well as the vision we hoped to create," she said. "We practiced compassion while simultaneously holding each other accountable… We wanted to keep practicing and tweaking the fine details because we wanted to be the best, and we didn't quite know what that meant at a national level. We all care about this contest so incredibly much. We didn't only want to win for ourselves; we wanted to win for each other." 

HireSmart Cares U.S. Career Assistance — Construction Class Story 

HireSmart Cares applauds the FFA team for their commitment to each other and their hard work toward a shared goal. If you have a workforce development idea and would like to share it with us, email info@hiresmartcares.org. To contribute to our efforts to help today's youth be tomorrow's leaders, click here. 

Humans need four walls and a roof, food, running water, electricity, and furniture. 

Each generation must meet the hands-on demands of supplying such things, and HireSmart Cares wants today’s kids to have the tools and teaching they need to be self-sufficient in meeting society’s basic needs in the future. 

That’s why HireSmart funds U.S. agricultural initiatives, helping the next wave of farmers who will put food on our plates with scholarships, grants, program funding, and more. 

HireSmart also supports U.S. workforce development in the same way: putting quality boots on the feet of high school graduates entering the workforce, providing scholarships for students going into trades programs, backing young entrepreneurs with seed money for their business plans, and more. It’s all part of the “leave-it-better-than-you-found-it” approach to the world that underpins HireSmart’s core values. 

The nonprofit also supports local construction teachers with funding to supplement their classes with construction materials, tools, and funding for travel so students can broaden their perspectives on their options. 

A call to action: HireSmart Cares aims to help youth realize their potential  

Madison County High School construction teacher Zach Carithers and Jackson County College & Career Center construction teacher Cody Dyer were both presented with $2,000 checks from HireSmart to help their students this school year. 

Students in Carithers’ and Dyer’s classes participate in Skills USA competitions, where they get a chance to shine, show what they’ve learned in construction class, and gain confidence that they can venture into adulthood with solid, hands-on skills, such as plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, welding, and more.  

Both teachers expressed gratitude to HireSmart for the grants they're using to cover membership costs, entry fees, and lodging for students participating in regional, state, and national Skills USA competitions. 

Some students come from tough situations, and the skills they learn can be a ticket out of financial hardship. The boost from HireSmart helps such kids make that connection between learning and living a good life. Dyer recalled one financially challenged student walking to the school in the early morning darkness to meet the group that assembled pre-dawn for a Skills USA event. Dyer was struck by his commitment to be a part of the program, even without transportation.  

“He was the first kid there; he was waiting on us when we got there,” he said.  

Dyer said there’s a mix of talent levels in his classes.  

“You have a wide range, and we have some kids who never use a hammer and some kids who have used power tools on their dad’s farm for forever,” he said.  

Construction is taught in three levels, with students learning the basics in “Construction 1." 

Carithers said he holds “Math Mondays” with beginning students, who learn about measuring principles and see how math is fundamental to all building. Students also use hand tools to build birdhouses.  

“Now we’re doing power tools,” he said. “They (the students) had 1’-by-1’ sheets of plywood, and they cut them into a jigsaw puzzle.”  

Carithers said his intermediate students are working on home construction.  

“We built mini houses, 4’-by-3’ tall walls on a platform floor and then gable roofs,” he said. “But I gave each one of them a pitch, so they all had to figure out the pitch of the roof to figure out how to cut the rafters.”  

He said his “Construction 3” class works on more challenging projects.  

“We’re going to build three 8-foot walls, one with a door, one with a window, and one with a partition,” said Carithers. “And then we’re going to sheath one of them- can’t afford to sheath them all- and put siding on that one wall and shingles on that one part.”  

The construction teacher said his class is working with Madison County’s JROTC program to put up a 14’-by-14’ foot shed for the JROTC.  

“We’ll put the footings in, build the flooring, put walls up, tin the roof, everything,” he said. “So that’s a huge opportunity. Our kids get to practice. It will take us two weeks.”  

Dyer said he loves seeing students have fun in his class and learn new skills.  

“We worked with a table saw today, and we’re going to build a star,” said Dyer. “We’ll take a miter saw and cut it at certain angles, then put it together, and it makes a star. It’s pretty cool. You can hang it on the wall.”  

Carithers and Dyer envision their students taking their skills beyond high school toward productive lives, providing four walls and a roof, food, running water, electricity, and furniture for themselves, their loved ones, and our society. HireSmart Cares pictures this, too, and is dedicated to helping kids help themselves, hoping those students will also strive to leave the world better than they found it.  

If you have an idea about how HireSmart Cares can support the next generation, email us at info@hiresmartcares.com. See more about us at hiresmartcares.org.  

Jeremiah Weaver marched across the graduation stage in May and took his high school diploma in hand. Soon, he had a sizable paycheck in his possession, too. 

The 18-year-old Madison County High School graduate is working nights at Caterpillar, the world's largest manufacturer of construction equipment.  

"I like it," he said. "It's something new. We build upper frames for the 308 excavators." 

Jeremiah got a financial boost before he started his Caterpillar career with a "Workforce Development Grant" from HireSmart Cares that provided funds for quality work boots.  

"They're good boots," he said. "I wear them eight hours a day, every day." 

Jeremiah says each shift starts with a safety meeting.  

"And then you go set up your area, and you build your part, which is your upper frame, and weld everything together, and then you push it through a robot," he said. "There's a post where you build the part and tack everything together, and you take the part that you tacked together and put it in the robot, and the robot does the full welds onto the part." 

The recent graduate, who was introduced to welding at Madison County High School by ag teacher Joshua Daniels, says Caterpillar provides a lot of opportunities for him, but he's planning to start his own welding company in a few years.  

"There are a lot of ways you can move up at Caterpillar," he said. "But I'm going to start my own welding company. I want to go to Athens Tech to get my business degree. It will probably be about five years before I can (start my business) because I want to do it right and have enough money to start it the way I want to." 

Jeremiah, who likes to hunt and fish, said it feels great to earn a living right out of high school.  

"It’s a good paycheck, too,” he said. “The last one was $1,400 for two weeks.” 

Jeremiah’s story is exactly what HireSmart Cares hopes to see: a young person introduced to a career skill in grade school and then making the most of that knowledge with a good-paying job after graduation. HireSmart funds numerous workforce development programs, grants, and scholarships to support young people in their quest to better themselves and their communities. 

Troy Hanson's family doesn't need Starbucks. No, they have a coffee whiz under their own roof. And Hanson, a rising high school sophomore, aims to make a career out of the coffee business. 

"Ever since I was young, I just like making coffee and food, and I have my own little store that I have in my house," he said. "I started doing that when I was about maybe 12. My family would order something out, and I'd make it. They would order lattes, hot chocolate, cappuccinos, frappuccinos, all sorts of stuff." 

Hanson, the son of Richard and Christy Hanson, plans to open his own coffee shop in a few years, and he got a big boost from HireSmart Cares recently, a $2,500 scholarship to help him get the business off the ground.  

"I will use the money for probably equipment," he said. "That takes a lot of the budget. I will probably need a larger espresso machine as well as a register." 

Hanson earned the scholarship by winning first place in the 2023 Madico Makers contest put on annually by the Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Young entrepreneurs in the county make a "Shark Tank" business pitch to a panel of judges. HireSmart awarded the second and third-place winners $1,000 and $500. 

This year's winner presented his plans for "Anchors Café."  

"I thought of Anchors because it is in the Bible meaning 'hope,'" he said. "I talked about how I would open up and who I would ask for coffee beans, who I would purchase from, and where I would set my shop up when I do." 

Hanson initially plans to set up his coffee business within HomeGrown Market in Colbert, Georgia, which offers a variety of homemade items from Madison County and the State of Georgia.  

"They need a person to sell sandwiches and beverages," he said. "Once it (Anchors Café) gets larger, I would think about opening up in a different building and hiring." 

Hanson, who plans to study business and cooking in college, voiced his appreciation to Mark and Anne Lackey and HireSmart Cares for the scholarship.  

"I would say thank you so much for this opportunity," he said. "It's greatly appreciated that you helped me as a young person to become independent and make my business a business." 

HireSmart Cares actively promotes young entrepreneurship, job skills development in grade school, and financial literacy so that youth can be prepared to enter the workforce and perhaps start their own businesses directly out of high school. The organization discourages students from saddling themselves with significant college debt without a clear path to pay it off. 

Hanson, who has five siblings, said his most popular item is "mainly my frappuccinos," but he said that's not what he typically drinks.  

"My favorite is a flat white," he said. "A flat white is where it's mainly just espresso, and milk has barely gotten any foam."