The SkillsUSA competitions we’re covering in the Chinook Observer are personally important to me. The “skilled trades” — a lengthening list of occupations — are the foundation of our economy and lives.

Although my career in the “information sector” — and my father’s as an Army colonel and a lawyer — might not seem to have any connection to what used to be called “blue-collar” work, our family is firmly rooted in jobs that caused callouses and blisters. We exist as a family thanks to generations of sawmill workers, miners, farmers, boiler men, carpenters and others who did the dirty work of making America what it is.

All these jobs and many others are great pathways to success — and not just for men, as was often the case in the past. We urgently need a new generation of well-trained people to build and maintain housing, manufacture goods, make sure that public infrastructure keeps up with society’s needs, and nearly countless other essential tasks. There’s nothing magical about a college degree and there are many other ways to acquire skills that will be pathways to good, interesting lives.

SkillsUSA not only exposes high school students to some of these career options, its lessons will be useful no matter what fields students eventually get into. The plumbing, carpentry and electrical skills I learned from Dad and Grandpa serve me well in maintaining my own home.

Covering SkillsUSA and activities like band, choir, theater, e-sports and robotics is the Observer’s opportunity to shine a light on kids who may not otherwise gain attention by playing sports or engaging in more typical paths to high school glory. It’s our privilege to endorse young people as they get started on life’s adventures.

We’re also presently reporting the culmination of winter sports seasons. We love it whenever local student-athletes find validation and gratification on basketball courts, wrestling mats and other venues. These activities keep a lot of kids in school. The Observer inevitably loses money each February as our expenses covering post-season sports outweigh our late-winter income. But we’re OK with that. Over the course of my three decades as editor, we’ve spent well over $1.2 million covering high school sports — an expenditure that certainly far exceeds any made by other private entities in support of local school athletics.

Thanks to exceptional writers and photographers like Luke Whittaker and Patrick Webb — who are recognized as among the best in Washington state — we’re able to highlight the diverse accomplishments of Pacific County students. Your support as subscribers and advertisers is what allows us to do so. Thank you!

As a closing note, Luke takes many photos that aren’t printed in the physical newspaper due to space limitations. There are no such constraints online. For example, check out this link to see two dozen photos of recent Senior Nights in Ilwaco and Naselle: https://www.chinookobserver.com/sports/ilwaco/basketball-squads-roll-with-the-bounces/article_55f4a078-a661-11ed-8dff-8f9cd54e0ac7.html.