'Skilled trades can be a really good way to go in life': Watch Wisconsin man on 'Tough As Nails'

FOOTVILLE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Todd Anderson has been working as a toolmaker for over four decades.

When the chance to participate on the CBS competition series "Tough As Nails" presented itself, he knew he had to take it.

"I'm 59. I want to have something that motivates me to stay fit and trim, and my grandkids to look up to me," Anderson said. "Every time I was out there, if something went really tough or bad, I would think about my grandkids and them saying, 'Come on, Grandpa. You can do it.'"

Filmed in Hamilton, Ontario, the show features essential workers from the United States and Canada. The competitions showcased in the series test the contestants' strength, endurance, life skills and mental toughness, all taking place in real-world scenarios. Now in its fifth season, Anderson says this has been the most competitive yet.

"They set the standard so high that the competition was close on everybody," Anderson said. "I hope the takeaway from season five, people watching is like, 'Hey. This thing's starting to gel. This thing's starting to go. We need to watch season six."

The first competitor from Wisconsin on the show, Anderson is proud to be representing his hometown of Footville, a small village located just west of Janesville. He's also proud to represent his current employer, American Extrusion International in South Beloit, Illinois, while also bringing awareness to the trades and the need for skilled labor in the United States.

"There's not an HR person out there right now that wouldn't tell you they can't fill skilled trades (jobs)," Anderson explained. "I want to bring awareness to younger generations that skilled trades can be a really good way of life. You can make a great living, whether you're an electrician, millwright, a pipe fitter, any skilled trade."

Episode nine is set to air Friday night at 7 on CBS 58, with the season finale set for Sunday night at 7 p.m. With two episodes to go, Anderson is still in contention for the $200,000 grand prize, a brand-new Ford truck, and the Tough As Nails champion's belt. His family and community are eager to continue cheering him on.

"I'm going to be rich!" joked Anderson's wife, Denise, when asked what is going to happen if he wins.

She says her husband has been tight-lipped when it comes to discussing the show and hasn't even shared the results with her.

"I'd rather that I don't know, because that way if somebody says something to me, I can't say anything because I can tell them I really don't know," Denise Anderson said. "He's tough. He's a hard worker. It's really surreal to me to see that he's on TV. Pretty proud."

So is the rest of the small Footville community, including Anderson's "super fan," Abby McGuire.

"We're proud of our little community and we're proud of hardworking individuals," McGuire said. "I can't think of a better person to represent Wisconsin, let along Footville."

Win or lose, Anderson says he's grateful for the experience and hopes that his determination will inspire others to follow in his footsteps, whether that's pursuing a career in the trades or trying to be a contestant on future seasons of Tough As Nails.

"I think that Wisconsin could dominate," Anderson said. "Wisconsin skilled tradesmen, we're used to working with bale or wire or twine. We know how to fix something out of nothing. I would love to be the motivating factor for other people to apply to get on Tough As Nails and go as far as I've already gone today. That would be awesome.

You can cheer on Todd Anderson in the final two episodes of Tough as Nails season five, Friday and Sunday at 7 p.m. on CBS 58.