Be Pro Be Proud Tour Visits Alabama National Fair
The career-oriented exhibition brought virtual trade simulators to Montgomery to encourage interest in technical fields.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Job Fairs
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The Be Pro Be Proud tour held an exhibition at the Alabama National Fair on October 19, 2026. The initiative uses interactive simulators to help young people explore careers in skilled trades.
Why it matters
The program seeks to address a declining professional workforce by encouraging students to consider technical careers as a first-choice path. It connects participants directly with employers and training pathways.
Meta has invested $500,000 in the tour, which includes 10 stops across the region. Since 2023, the program has reached nearly 70,000 students.
The players
Be Pro Be Proud
This initiative works to address skilled labor shortages by promoting technical and trade careers to students through interactive tours.
Meta
The technology corporation has invested over $1.5 billion in the capital region of Alabama and maintains a major data center in Montgomery.
The details
Visitors at the Alabama National Fair utilized a tractor-trailer equipped with virtual reality simulators for HVAC, welding, electrical, heavy equipment, and manufacturing trades. The event coincided with First Responders Day, which offered free admission to emergency service professionals and their families.
Timeline
October 19, 2026: Be Pro Be Proud stopped at the Alabama National Fair.
Fall 2026: The career tour continues through the season.
Market Landscape
This initiative addresses the national trend of skilled trade workforce decline by funneling youth interest into essential industrial roles. It mirrors corporate efforts to ensure a localized labor pipeline for major infrastructure projects like the Montgomery data center.
Local students and parents can use these events to evaluate career options and training pathways at no cost. The program provides a practical way for families to engage with industry recruiters and learn about educational requirements for high-demand trades.
The takeaway
Workforce development initiatives are increasingly using high-tech engagement tools to bridge the gap between education and industrial demand. Students and parents interested in these paths should research local trade certification programs to complement the hands-on exposure provided at events.
Further reading
Find more career development events in our Montgomery Job Fairs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Alabama Gazette.
Live Poll
Do you believe technical trade careers are a better first choice than traditional four-year college degrees?
