BALL, La. — The buzz of transformers and the hum of high-voltage equipment aren’t typical classroom sounds—but for local 4-H students, they became the backdrop for a hands-on lesson in how Central Louisiana stays powered.

As part of the Engineering Track of the 4-H Career Camp on February 26, Rapides Parish students visited a 230/34.5kV Cleco electrical substation in Ball, La. The group learned how electricity is transmitted and distributed throughout the region.

Representatives from engineering and safety teams at Cleco and Beta Engineering met the students at the site and took them on a tour around the perimeter of the station, which Beta Engineering designed and built for Cleco. The station has been in operation since 2023, providing increased power reliability for the surrounding community and local businesses.

“Cleco and Beta Engineering’s support and collaboration made this a meaningful experience for our 4-H youth and gave them valuable insight into the engineering career field,” said Allison Elnaggar, Associate Extension Agent for Rapides Parish 4-H.

Students learned about substation safety, how power flows through the grid, what a substation does, and how Cleco oversees vegetation management to reduce the risk of power outages during storms. The substation visit showed them the types of work engineers can do and how all of these can connect within a single project, from civil engineers designing foundations to electrical engineers calculating the spacing needed between pieces of equipment within the substation yard.

This site visit was part of a two-day Rapides Parish 4-H camp for students interested in learning about careers in engineering. Following the substation visit, students traveled to Crest Industries’ campus to explore additional engineering and manufacturing career pathways. The experience connected STEM concepts to real-world applications, giving students a clearer picture of how classroom lessons translate into meaningful careers.

Throughout the day, students discovered that impactful, high-demand engineering careers are available in Central Louisiana. From design and project management to field construction and operations, the visit highlighted how companies like Cleco and Beta Engineering are investing in workforce development and inspiring the next generation of industry leaders.

Investing in Local Engineering Talent

While Beta’s impact and team footprint are national, their Louisiana roots remain strong. Beta’s engineering, project management, and construction teams frequently participate in speaking engagements with college classes and student organizations at Louisiana Tech University, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and other universities across the state. They also join Beta’s parent company Crest Industries in co-hosting events like Crest's Manufacturing Month career day each October, where high schoolers visit Crest’s headquarters in Pineville to learn about career opportunities in Central Louisiana.

About Beta Engineering

Beta Engineering is a substation EPC company headquartered in Pineville, La., with an office in San Diego. Since our start in Central Louisiana in 1975, we’ve helped utilities and power delivery companies across the U.S. complete high-voltage substation and transmission line projects.

At Beta, we believe our work is powered by people—those who bring passion, purpose, and problem-solving to every challenge. If you’re looking to build a career that makes a difference, join a team that’s been making a powerful difference for more than 50 years. Discover where your skills can help power what’s next.