“In my classroom, the goal is to prepare students to be career ready. I do not expect every student to master every trade, but I want them to leave with the skills and confidence to be employable, enjoy life, and understand how the world around them works.“
Ty Neal teaches agricultural mechanics at Denton High School in Denton, Montana. Inspired by his own high school agriculture instructor, he launched his career teaching on the Crow Indian Reservation at Lodge Grass High School, where he spent over a decade developing a deep appreciation for the impact of practical skilled trades education. Now serving as an educator and FFA advisor in central Montana, Neal has earned accolades from the Montana Association of Agricultural Educators, including the Teachers Turn the Key Award, the Rookie of the Year Award, and the Montana Outstanding Program Award. He focuses on building confidence, problem-solving abilities, and a strong work ethic in his students through hands-on technical instruction and leadership development.
In the Denton High School shop, students bridge traditional craftsmanship and modern technology by utilizing forge blacksmithing and metal shaping alongside MIG welders and plasma cutters. Neal’s curriculum offers dual enrollment college credits in welding, covering comprehensive pathways across woodworking, construction, HVAC fundamentals, and agricultural mechanics. To simulate authentic industry workflows, students design and construct complete trailers from the ground up, cutting steel, fabricating frames, and wiring lighting systems. This comprehensive project-based approach reinforces tool safety, precise measurement, and teamwork, ensuring learners graduate with tangible skills that translate directly into high-demand trade and agricultural careers.
Notes of Excellence
- Business & Industry Alignment: Local welders opened their facilities for after-school student practice, the local hardware store supplied consumable materials at cost, and a local bank supported the program in securing a crucial grant to maintain shop operations.
- Key Program Impact: Neal prepares rural graduates for direct entry into the workforce, technical postsecondary programs, and vital local industries including welding, mechanics, construction, and farming.
- Community Connection: Neal’s students designed and built a custom trailer from scratch, which has become a valuable resource to the whole community – hauling student projects to shows and contests, supporting community members in need, and serving as a fundraiser centerpiece.