This fall, students across Mid-Missouri will have the opportunity to explore the world of skilled trades—without ever leaving their hometown. From October through December 2025, the JA Trades Simulation Trailer will be parked in Fulton, Missouri, offering a fully immersive, mobile experience that helps students connect what they learn in the classroom to real-world career paths.
The traveling exhibit, powered by Junior Achievement of Central Missouri, transforms career exploration into an exciting, hands-on adventure. Inside the trailer, students rotate through seven interactive stations that showcase the wide variety of opportunities available in the trades and STEM fields.
Inside the Trailer: Seven Stations That Bring Careers to Life
Each stop inside the JA Trades Simulation Trailer gives students a glimpse into the skills, creativity, and problem-solving that drive Missouri’s workforce:
- Electrical Wiring Simulation – Learn about circuits, power flow, and safety in the electrical trade.
- Carpentry Station – Grab a hammer and build a bench, or test your precision in the nail-driving challenge.
- 3D Blueprint Modeling (BIM) – Discover how digital design shapes construction projects from the ground up.
- VR Career Exploration – Use virtual reality goggles to step inside a day in the life of a trades professional.
- STEM 360 “Farm-to-Table Pizza” – Follow the journey from agriculture to the dinner plate through science and technology.
- Tradestown Augmented Reality – Explore a miniature town and see how different jobs work together to keep a community running.
- Teamwork Challenge – Engage in problem-solving activities that connect communication and critical thinking skills to the world of work.
The Workforce Link Podcast offers forward thinking conversations for the workforce, linking employers and job seekers to a brighter tomorrow. Check out the details here…
More Than an Exhibit — It’s Workforce Development in Action
The JA Trades Simulation Trailer isn’t just a fun experience; it’s a strategic investment in Missouri’s future workforce. By exposing students to career options early, they begin to see pathways that match their strengths and interests—many of which lead to high-demand, high-paying careers in construction, manufacturing, and technical industries.
It’s this kind of early exposure that helps build a stronger talent pipeline, ensuring local employers have access to skilled, motivated workers ready to contribute to their communities.
For more information about the JA Trades Simulation Trailer and upcoming visits in Fulton, visit their website….