TRENT VISITS MMCRU HIGH SCHOOL TO SEE HOW STUDENTS ARE LEARNING REAL TRADE SKILLS FOR LIFE

On this episode of Trent on the Loos, Trent Loos heads to Marcus, Iowa to visit MMCRU High School and see firsthand how this small-town school is doing big things when it comes to preparing the next generation. While many schools focus only on college prep, MMCRU is teaching students real-life trade skills that can be used right after graduation. Trent talks with Max Pepper, the SkillsUSA President at MMCRU, about what it means to lead a student organization that promotes work ethic, leadership, and hands-on learning. He also meets with two dedicated instructors, Matt Hansen and Nick Long, who teach industrial tech for grades 7-12 and 9-12. These teachers are helping students learn trades like welding, woodworking, mechanics, and more—skills that are in high demand and often overlooked in today’s world. Trent explores the shop classrooms, hears from students, and sees for himself how programs like this are building pride, responsibility, and purpose in young people. This episode highlights how communities like Marcus are investing in the future by giving kids real opportunities to learn and grow through hard work. It’s a refreshing reminder of what education should look like—teaching young people to think, to work, and to build a life with their own two hands.