On Friday, the French Oil Mill Machinery Company opened our doors to over 80 students from the Wilder Intermediate School’s fourth grade class for a tour of our worldwide headquarters and manufacturing facility. Daniel P. French, President and Chairman of French, spoke to the students about the company’s history and discussed the application of science and engineering in the design and manufacturing of French equipment. He stressed the importance of working hard and exhibiting strong character attributes such as honesty, dependability and friendliness – traits that French looks for when hiring employees. Having just returned from a business trip in China, French also touched on the company’s export business and the international travel that he and other French employees experience. On the tour, students also met with three engineers and toured French’s machine shop and assembly department.
As Wilder’s school business partner, French hosts tours for students every year to help link classroom STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) with real life experience. “Our partnership with French Oil has been a huge positive for Wilder students,” said Curt Montgomery, Wilder’s Principal. “Through this tour, students learn about manufacturing and hear great messages on the value of education and strong effort. This is just one of the many ways Wilder students are supported by this local business. To have such support is a great blessing.”
Since the inception of the school business partnership in 1998, French has also supported the school with fundraising and student mentoring.