Industrial Craft Competition

The Industrial Craft Competition (ICC) is a program sponsored by The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™, with the aim of fostering development of industrial craft skills for students enrolled in career and technical education programs from schools across Texas. Not only does this competition provide invaluable project-based training and experience, it offers career opportunities to students and provides a valuable recruiting pipeline to the industrial construction industry.

There are two competitions that take place annually as part of ICC. The first is a team-based competition completed over the course of several months as part of a high school industrial craft course. Industry mentors work in tandem with high school instructors to construct a spec-built project that is judged by industry experts. Each team is required to deliver a live presentation preceded by a detailed inspection of the project at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

The second is a live competition for individual high school seniors (preferred). Competitors are required to follow drawings or weld to spec in one of three categories – pipe welding, structural welding or pipe fitting – and are then independently judged by industry professionals. Upon completion of the competition, students engage with company representatives who present career opportunities and coordinate interviews.