CareerFest

Get Ready for CareerFest 2025!

On March 18, 2025, the Chamber of Commerce Serving Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County will again host the Rockbridge CareerFest at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington. This exciting, hands-on event offers middle school students the chance to explore a wide range of career paths among large and small businesses across Rockbridge County.

CareerFest is all about fun, interactive learning! Students will engage with businesses of all sizes from across the county, gaining firsthand insights into diverse industries. The event is designed to be both informative and engaging. Chamber volunteers collaborate closely with middle school teachers to ensure an enriching experience for all. To help prepare students for the event, they receive teaching materials, and after their visit, educators will have specially crafted lesson plans to guide post-event discussions.

The day kicks off in the Horse Center Mezzanine, where students will get a warm welcome and a brief introduction to CareerFest. Afterward, they will accompany their chaperones to the Concourse, where they will visit various career clusters, spending about 5 minutes with each. It is a whirlwind journey of discovery, offering students a sneak peek into the future possibilities that await them in their own community!

Career Clusters and Participants:

Manufacturing. Manufacturers create the products we buy in stores and groceries.
Healthcare. From doctor’s offices to hospitals, the healthcare industry helps keep us safe and healthy.
Outdoor Recreation. The natural beauty of Rockbridge County makes it a population destination for outdoor recreation.
Agriculture. Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley has long been an important bed of agricultural production.
Education. Educational providers are a key component of our local economy.
Business. “Entrepreneurship” is the activity of setting up a business, and small business owners are an important part of the business landscape.
Public Service. Public service professionals keep us safe.
Hospitality. Rockbridge County is a tourist destination, and businesses like hotels and restaurants are important to our local economy.
Information Technology. From communication to managing computers, Information Technology (IT) is an important sector of the economy.
Professional Services. From real estate agents to bankers to insurance agents, to veterinarians, professional services provide their clients with expert care and support.
Transportation. Getting products to market requires transportation and logistics.