Welcome to Tri-City United, Introduction to Woodshop. Do you want to build a picnic table?

Today, Randall Rivers, Owner and CEO of Minnesota Millwork & Fixtures (MMF), and Mike Landro, Programmer, spoke and worked with the students in Haley Sowieja’s Introductory Woodshop class. MMF donated the lumber needed for the class to construct eight (8) picnic tables. Students learn shop safety, how to use tools, how to interpret building plans, and how to physically construct these picnic tables in this introductory class. After completion, Sowieja sells these student-made picnic tables to local businesses and uses the profit to buy/upgrade shop tools and equipment.

Throughout the class, Landro and Rivers spoke with students about their group’s picnic table projects. Landro spoke with students on the importance of aligning a tape measure correctly to ensure the most accurate measurements. “Measure twice – cut once” was a common statement.

Rivers spoke on trying to be active in the community however and whenever possible. Community collaboration is vital to Minnesota Millwork & Fixtures, from donating and visiting different classes to job shadowing and summer job opportunities for students interested in the trades as a future career, as not all students want to attend a four-year college.

We are pleased to speak with the students and supply the materials for the TCU Introductory Woodshop classes. You never know if a student will be the next master builder, finisher, drafter, or programmer at Minnesota Millwork & Fixtures.

TCU students build picnic tables with donated lumber from MN Millwork
image of MMF staff talking about picnic tables