Spread the love

Contributed

On the morning of August 30th, a special unveiling ceremony was held at the Dublin Town Hall for the newly completed peanut sculpture. The sculpture, covered prior to the event, was revealed to an audience that included members of the Dublin Peanut Festival, Dublin’s mayor, and representatives from Bladen Community College.

Attendees took time to admire the craftsmanship and creativity on display, with many praising the hard work of the students and instructors involved in the project. The peanut sculpture was met with great enthusiasm as a new symbol of community pride.

The idea for this unique project began in July 2023, as the welding program set out to design, shape, and construct a peanut sculpture. The ambitious undertaking required careful planning as students and instructors deliberated over materials, shaping methods, and size.

Mike Taylor, one of the welding instructors, played a pivotal role by creating a scale model and gaining approval from the Dublin Peanut Festival Chairpersons. With the green light, Mike promptly ordered the necessary materials, and the team began work shortly after the materials arrived.

Over a span of four intense weeks, the welding program labored tirelessly to bring the peanut sculpture to life. The project faced its share of challenges, notably the absence of proper equipment to roll the “skin” tread plate. However, the team’s resourcefulness prevailed, as they commandeered an old roller from the Industrial Systems Program and adapted it to their needs. “It was good for the students to learn some sheet metal fabrication techniques,” commented Mike Taylor, highlighting the educational value of overcoming obstacles in the project.

The welding process employed was GMAW (MIG), recognized as one of the best and fastest fabrication techniques available today. Students gained invaluable experience in manipulating metal to achieve precise joint fits and learned to fill gaps with welds, honing their welding skills along the way.

While numerous students contributed to this incredible endeavor, special recognition goes to Destinie Hunt, Brandon Carter, and Ian Pait, who went above and beyond in their commitment to the project. These dedicated students, along with their peers, devoted extra hours, including days outside their regular class schedule, to ensure the sculpture’s completion. Destinie Hunt’s social media presence even garnered over 5,000 likes and comments on Facebook, attesting to the community’s excitement for this venture.

Other students who played crucial roles in the project include Ian Clark, Jacob Knuth, Jacob Caulder, Jamie Delgato, and Natoren Corbett. All students worked under the diligent supervision of instructors Mike Taylor and Ryan Pridgen.

The finished peanut sculpture stands 5.5 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide, an impressive testament to the welding program’s craftsmanship and dedication. We take great pride in seeing this magnificent sculpture now on display at the Dublin Town Hall and look forward to its prominent presence during the 2024 Dublin Peanut Festival.