Building Careers at Home: Rough Country’s Signing Day in Dyer County

This Signing Day marked the moment classroom skills met real-world work.

Here’s what happened:

• Rough Country visited Dyer County High School
• Seniors John Johnson and Sarah Rector signed on as incoming welders
• Both students will join the Rough Country welding team after graduation
• The signing falls under our Community Works Program

The result is stronger workers, stronger teams, and a stronger community.

Rough Country partners with local schools to develop the next generation of skilled workers, starting with Dyer County High School and Dyersburg City Schools. This work is part of our Community Works Program.

Why this matter:

• Skilled trades keep manufacturing alive in West Tennessee
• Students earn career-ready skills before graduation
• Local talent stays local, strengthening the community

We don’t have new Dyersburg City High School signings planned this year, but several grads from that program already work on our team today. Proof the pipeline works.

John and Sarah will join the welding team ready to build, learn, and contribute.

Their work will include:

• Welding suspension components
• Fabricating cargo management systems
• Building steps and exterior accessories

The first-year matters. Rough Country treats it like training camp.

What the onboarding process looks like:

• First 8 weeks focused on hands-on training
• Time spent with in-house welding trainers
• Learning Rough Country standards from the ground up
• Building components that meet real-world demands

By the time new welders hit the floor full-time, they know the equipment, the process, and the expectations.

Partnering with schools like Dyer County High School isn’t a side project. It’s part of how Rough Country invests in the future of Dyer County.

We want people from our hometown building the products that carry our name. Strong schools lead to skilled workers. Skilled workers lead to stable careers. Stable careers lead to stronger communities.

CEO Patrick Just put it best:

“We want high school graduates to leave school with the skills to start a career, if they so choose. And we like it even more when that career starts at Rough Country. We have a history of internal promotion. Some of our most senior managers have been here since they were teenagers. If you have a great work ethic and a positive attitude you will have opportunities at Rough Country. Coming out of school with welding skills just helps them start at a higher level.”

Signing Day at Dyer County High School wasn’t about paperwork. It was about investing in people, growing local talent, and keeping American manufacturing strong.

John and Sarah, welcome to the Rough Country family. We can’t wait to see what you build.

Have thoughts on trade programs, local partnerships, or career paths in manufacturing? Drop a comment below and join the conversation.