Welder and metal artist Sarah Stork went from farm chores to SkillsUSA national champion — and built a thriving sculpture business on her own terms.

When the guys on her SkillsUSA team laughed her off on the spot, Sarah didn't sulk — she found a new event, taught herself welded sculpture from scratch, and placed second in the country on her first attempt. The year after that, she won gold. That's not beginner's luck. That's what happens when someone with the right instincts finally finds the right trade.

Sarah Stork is a Georgetown, Texas-based welder, metal artist, and owner of her own sculpture studio. She holds an associate degree in welding technology from Austin Community College and certificates in plate, pipe, and structural fabrication. She's competed at the highest levels of SkillsUSA, built a wait-listed commission business, and has become one of the most recognized welded sculpture artists in the skilled trades community.

This episode is for anyone who's ever been told they don't belong in the trades — and for anyone trying to turn a welding skill into a business. Sarah breaks down how she got started, what it really takes to build a welding career from scratch, and why the metal industry will always have a place for people willing to put in the work.

IN THIS EPISODE

(00:00) – Welcome & Sarah's Origin Story: Why a Texas farm wife enrolled in welding school in 2012 — and how a plan to build a simple fence launched a career in metal sculpture.

(05:30) – Getting Laughed Off — Then Winning Gold: How being rejected from a team fabrication event led Sarah to discover welded sculpture, compete at SkillsUSA nationals, and win first place in 2016.

(15:00) – From College Shop to Home Studio: The path from lab technician at Austin Community College to walking off a pipeline job and launching a full-time welding sculpture business in 2018.

(23:00) – Women in Welding & The Metal Sandwich: Sarah's response to being told to "go make a sandwich" — and what she built instead. Why skilled trades work isn't about gender, it's about skill.

(31:00) – Using LinkedIn and Social Media to Build a Client Base: How Sarah found her first commission clients online, why LinkedIn outperforms Instagram for serious buyers, and what posting consistently during COVID did for her welding business.

(40:00) – The Craft, the Process, and the Blue Heron: What it takes to hand-form a six-foot steel bird with hundreds of individual feathers, why the best sculptures are "the ones that are done," and the one tool that changed everything.

Key Takeaways

SkillsUSA competitions aren't just for high schoolers — college students compete too, and placing nationally can redefine your entire welding career trajectory.

You don't need a website to build a thriving welding business — Sarah runs her entire client pipeline through LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok under her own name.

TIG welding is one of the cleanest, highest-paid paths in the skilled trades — and states like Texas are actively investing in clean room welding training facilities right now.

Mentorship is the fastest shortcut in the trades — Sarah credits her ACC instructor Thomas Hinkle for recognizing her talent and steering her toward welded sculpture before she even knew it was an option.

About the Guest

Sarah Stork is a welder, metal sculptor, and business owner based in Georgetown, Texas. She holds an associate degree in welding technology and certificates in plate, pipe, and structural fabrication from Austin Community College. A two-time SkillsUSA competitor, she placed second at nationals in 2015 and won first place (gold) in welded sculpture in 2016. In 2018 she launched her full-time sculpture studio from her 14-acre Texas property, where she creates commissioned wildlife and abstract steel pieces for clients across the country.

Her work is known for seamlessly blending welding technique and artistic finish — some clients mistake her welded steel pieces for cast sculpture. She is active on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok under her name, Sarah Stork.

Keywords

welding careers, metal sculpture, skilled trades, women in welding, welded sculpture, SkillsUSA, welding school, TIG welding, Austin Community College, welding business, six-figure trades, fabrication, welding certificate, Sarah Stork, Andrew Brown, Lost Art of the Skilled Trades, Fabtech, metal art, trades entrepreneurship, Gen Z trades careers, welding salary

RESOURCE LINKS

Sarah Stork on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-stork-a8435a127/

Sarah Stork on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_stork_/

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