Every fall on Manufacturing Day, the National Association of Manufacturers celebrates the incredible world of factory production. This year, YESCO threw open its doors to give some lucky local Salt Lake City students an unforgettable behind-the-scenes look at how we light up the world.

YESCO, a company whose legacy is embraced by the International Sign Association (ISA), invited the fifth grade from Franklin Elementary for a tour. But the school had an even better idea: “Can we bring the sixth grade too?” In total, 65 students and staff joined the fun.

Given the big group, the students were split into six smaller squads and rotated “shotgun style” through six different work centers. They got to see everything from initial design and metal manufacturing to the paint shop, service, installation and, of course, the dazzling neon shop.

The sheer scale of the operation was a highlight! Under close supervision, some students even got to push a button to move one of the massive, 15-ton overhead cranes that transport materials across the factory floor.

In the conference room, they learned about YESCO’s deep roots, starting with Thomas Young Sr. who founded the business in 1920. They even saw clips from YESCO’s Undercover Boss episode and learned about the high-tech evolution of the sign industry, including the recent installation of the exterior screen on the Sphere in Las Vegas!

The real purpose of the day was to show these young minds the diverse job opportunities available in manufacturing and the crucial role of education.

The students’ reactions were priceless:

• After seeing a big, red YESCO installation truck, a sixth grader was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. His enthusiastic reply? “I want to be a fireman!… at YESCO!” (We all got a good chuckle when we realized he might have mistaken the sign truck for a fire engine!)

• Another young girl who had just watched a video compilation of sign projects with upbeat music offered this thoughtful critique: “Your signs look better with music.” We agree, but doesn’t everything everything!

Ultimately, the memorable day achieved its goal: planting the seeds of excitement about the rewarding future careers available right here in local manufacturing.