Still Building America: Texas high school welding student goes big with project

Texas high school welding student Danielle Brock of Cy-Fair High School decided to go big for her senior year project: a 16-ft. enclosed livestock trailer with storage compartments and sleeping quarters. Images: Danielle Brock

Danielle Brock, a student at Cy-Fair High School in Texas, decided to go big for her senior-year class project. With help from her Agricultural Mechanics teacher, family members, and a friend, she built a 16-ft. enclosed livestock trailer with a storage compartment and sleeping quarters. She explains how she built the trailer from the ground up, what she learned along the way, and how the project made her fall in love with welding.

Danielle Brock: When I started high school, the first thing I did was join Future Farmers of America (FFA). I raised lambs and joined our Agricultural Mechanics program, where I built projects and went to shows. I’ve always been interested in making things. I’m a very hands-on person.

Darla Welton: Tell me a little more about the Agricultural Mechanics class and when you started learning how to weld.

DB: I started with a wooden bench project my freshman year. In my sophomore year, I took our Ag Mech class and learned to weld. A family friend saw what I was doing and offered to pay for me to build a fire pit. It was tricky, but in the end, I fell in love with the process. In my junior year, I went to my Ag teacher, Mr. Rudy Rodriguez, and said I wanted to build a big trailer as the boys have done in the past. My teacher believed I could do it and told me it would be hard but that he would teach me along the way. Other than building a firepit, I had never welded anything big.

DW: How did the livestock trailer project come together?

DB: When I first went to Mr. Rodriguez, I had the plan to build a small single animal trailer, but my teacher told me I could do better. After I drew the final plans, it turned into a 16-ft. enclosed livestock trailer with a storage compartment and sleeping quarters. I tried to tackle the trailer all by myself, but then I stepped back and asked my friend, Blake Sanders, for help.

DW: I know that you won some awards for the trailer. Please share about that.

DB: I originally made it for our school show, but because of COVID restrictions, I could not show it there. But there were other shows around the corner. We were lucky enough to be able to show it at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo. That was the first show our Ag class went to, and we placed 1st on the trailer and 2nd overall. We then went to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. There we placed 1st on my trailer, but we didn't place in the top 5. We are still able to take my project to other smaller shows this year. At the San Antonio show, we won a small Miller stick welder, a Miller welding hood, a pair of gloves, and another welding hood. We also won some grinding discs and a chipping hammer/wire brush set.

DW: Who has made the most significant impact in your life?

DB: I like to think the people who have impacted my life the most are the people around me. My mom and dad are my biggest supporters. They helped pay for everything and even came into the shop and helped. My dad came in and helped me prefab everything and helped anywhere he could. My mom was the one who had to wake me up in the mornings after a long night of working. She also brought food up to the shop for everyone there. My parents taught me to never back down from something that makes me happy.

Cy-Fair High School senior Danielle Brock built a 16-ft. livestock trailer for her class project.

Another person who helped shape me into who I am today is my sister, Kayla Brock. She is an Ag teacher and has always encouraged me. The trailer is a wedding gift for my sister. This past year she got engaged and started her dream job. I was so proud of her for accomplishing her goals and wanted to do something for her. She will use it for her students and my little brother when showing animals and other projects. MTK, on the front of the trailer, is her fiancé’s brand.

And of course, my Ag teacher, Mr. Rodriguez, told me I could do anything, even when I told myself I couldn't do it. He believed in me and helped me when I didn't believe in myself. Our Ag Mechanics program wouldn’t be half a good as it is without him.

DW: Are there other life experiences, hobbies, or things that have inspired you or your passion?

DB: I come from a family of plumbers, and growing up, I would go to work with my dad to earn some extra money. When I turned 16, I got my apprentice’s license. My family taught me always to get involved and try new things.

DW: That’s awesome. What is your favorite thing about welding?

DB: My favorite thing about welding is putting my hood down and everything around me disappears.

DW: What has been the most challenging part of your welding career/schooling so far?

DB: The most challenging part has been trying to prove myself as one of the boys when it’s better to be one of the girls.

DW: Ha! Love it. What other opportunities has welding brought to you so far?

DB: With my trailer, I’ve traveled to Oklahoma and all around Texas. I then joined the Ag Mech quiz team, where we’ve learned so many new things, and we are even going to the state competition!

Danielle Brock working on her livestock trailer.

DW: What sort of career or education dreams/goals do you have?

DB: I’m planning on going to Texas State Technical College in Williamson County. I am looking for a job over the summer (hopefully in welding), and I hope to work while going to school. I haven’t decided yet whether I want to become a welding inspector or Ag Mech teacher.

DW: What are your next steps as you head toward graduation?

DB: I've been accepted to TSTC, but I now have to find a place to live and find a job.

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