Texas High School's Ag Mechanics Program Earns National Recognition

Dorman Vick's students build specialized equipment for the U.S. government, showcasing the power of vocational education.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 10:06am

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a welding torch repeated in a grid pattern, representing the skilled trades and the importance of vocational education.Vocational education takes center stage as a Texas high school's ag mechanics program earns national recognition for its exceptional work.Boerne Today

Dorman Vick, an ag mechanics instructor at Samuel V Champion High School in Boerne, Texas, has spent 22 years building an exceptional vocational education program. His students have now gained national attention, with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture inviting Vick and his students to a federal groundbreaking event. The program is the only high school ag mechanics program in the U.S. to have completed government-commissioned builds in response to biosecurity threats against the cattle industry.

Why it matters

This story highlights the importance of vocational education and the real-world impact it can have. Vick's program is producing skilled workers who are contributing to critical national infrastructure, at a time when the skilled labor pipeline is broken. The government's recognition of the program underscores the value of hands-on, trade-focused education.

The details

Vick has spent over two decades building the ag mechanics program at Samuel V Champion High School, refusing to lower the standards despite the challenges. His students learn welding, CAD design, and other practical skills, producing professional-level work. In March 2026, the program won the Overall Reserve Grand Champion title at the prestigious Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Ag Mechanics Project Show. Most notably, the students have built specialized equipment for the federal government and the State of Texas, including a 2,200-gallon Mobile Dipping VAT semi-trailer, in response to biosecurity threats to the cattle industry.

  • Vick has led the ag mechanics program at Samuel V Champion High School for 22 years.
  • In March 2026, the program won the Overall Reserve Grand Champion title at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Ag Mechanics Project Show.
  • On April 17, 2026, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture invited Vick and his students to a federal groundbreaking event.

The players

Dorman Vick

The ag mechanics instructor at Samuel V Champion High School who has spent 22 years building an exceptional vocational education program.

Samuel V Champion High School

A high school in Boerne, Texas that is home to the only high school ag mechanics program in the U.S. to have completed government-commissioned builds in response to biosecurity threats.

Brooke Rollins

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture who personally invited Vick and his students to a federal groundbreaking event, recognizing the importance of their work.

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What they’re saying

“We didn't build this to win a trophy. We built it because it needed to be built and our kids were capable of building it. The fact that the federal government agrees with that assessment is something I'm proud of, but it doesn't change what we do on Monday. We go back to work.”

— Dorman Vick, Ag Mechanics Instructor, Samuel V Champion High School

What’s next

The students and their instructor, Dorman Vick, will attend the federal groundbreaking event at Moore Air Base, where they will showcase their work and discuss the importance of vocational education.

The takeaway

Dorman Vick's ag mechanics program at Samuel V Champion High School demonstrates the power of hands-on, trade-focused education. By refusing to compromise on standards and producing high-quality work, the program has earned national recognition and the opportunity to contribute to critical national infrastructure. This story highlights the value of vocational education and the skilled workers it can produce.