ApprenticeshipNC contests at NC State Fair showcase trades, skills, and community

On Monday, Oct. 20, the 71st annual masonry apprentice contest kicked off a week of trade competitions at the North Carolina State Fair.

Hosted by ApprenticeshipNC, the contests highlighted the skills and versatility of the state’s next generation of tradespeople. Organizers welcomed attendees with a message emphasizing the importance of work-based learning. 

The week of events featured masonry, carpentry, electrical, and HVAC competitions, providing a platform for apprentices and pre-apprentices to demonstrate the precision, speed, and expertise developed through Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs), according to a booklet distributed at the event.

ApprenticeshipNC, the state’s apprenticeship agency, is housed within the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS). Though the agency is part of the NCCCS, apprenticeships can be coordinated through community colleges or directly between apprentices and employers.

According to ApprenticeshipNC Director Chris Harrington, “Registered Apprenticeship is a voluntary, employer-driven strategy to train and develop a skilled workforce,” and it brings benefits to all parties involved: apprentices, employers, and the public.

Apprentices learn while earning wages, and earn $10,000 per year more than a non-apprentice; employers get a return on their investment in the form of skilled workers; and the public receives the benefits of a trained workforce in needed trades; according to the ApprenticeshipNC Annual Report.

There is bipartisan support for increasing apprenticeships — an executive order from President Donald Trump set a goal of surpassing 1 million new active apprentices nationwide, and Gov. Josh Stein’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships aims to double the number of registered apprentices in the state.

“From masons and electricians to carpenters and HVAC/R technicians, these apprentices and pre-apprentices represent the strength, resilience, and future of North Carolina’s workforce,” Harrington said in the contest booklet.

RAPs combine hands-on training with classroom instruction, structured wage progression, and nationally recognized credentials. Many apprentices also earn two-year associate degrees through North Carolina Community Colleges at little to no cost, allowing them to graduate and launch careers that can reach six-figure earnings.

This year’s masonry contest began at 8 a.m. with contestant check-in, followed by a safety briefing. The competition ran from 9 a.m. to noon, testing apprentices on brick laying and block laying skills measured down to a 16th of an inch. 

Contestants provided their own tools and personal protective equipment, while a mortar pan was supplied for each participant.

As the world becomes increasingly digital, social media and artificial intelligence are reshaping industries. Calvin Brodie, president of Brodie Contractors Inc. and chair of the masonry contest committee, emphasized the ongoing need to attract and retain young talent in masonry.

“We have to do a better job of attracting youth, and once we attract them, we need a vehicle to train and retain them,” he said.

Brodie highlighted mentorship as key in keeping young people engaged, especially those who might otherwise drift into jobs outside the trade. He also pointed to the versatility of masonry careers, noting that trained apprentices can move across states or industries while maintaining valuable, in-demand skills.

Tony Privette, a spectator who works for Brodie Contractors Inc., said this was the first time in 20 years that he didn’t have an apprentice in the competition. He was first exposed to the industry in 1989 when he began working for Brodie. He started as a brick layer and currently oversees safety for the company.

For Privette, the competition is both a test of skill and a moment to appreciate the career opportunities the trade provides. 

“Once you start, you get into a rhythm, and the last few minutes are when it gets real intense,” Privette said. 

Although some companies don’t have representation in the contest, local high school students are invited to spectate, allowing for recruitment opportunities.

“The state fair is a way that we can showcase our skills and talents to the world,” Privette said.

Judging focused on plumb, level, measurements, square and range, production, tooling and neatness, tool manipulation and safety, full head joints, and correct design.

Macy Williams, one of this year’s judges, met Brodie while he was in high school, during the summer of his junior year. He began working for Brodie Contractors Inc. in 2000, and now, 25 years later, he reflects on what the industry has done for him.

“Masonry saved my life. It gave me direction, a career, and mentorship I wouldn’t have found otherwise,” Williams said.

The fulfillment and purpose that is cultivated through this industry is evident. Not only in the contestants, but in the former participants, judges, and supporters who attend the event annually.

Williams shared that he is always willing to create opportunities for young apprentices, just as Brodie did for him.  

Awards were announced at 1:30 p.m., with the first-place winner receiving $325 and a plaque both recognizing the apprentice and their employer. This year’s competition was intense, with a narrow three points separating the top two contenders. In the end, David Hernandez-Herrera of Whitman Masonry took home first place.

Each contestant received a toolkit for their participation in the competition and the top 10 received cash prizes ranging from $75 to $325.

As the winner, Hernandez-Herrera will advance to the SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 Competition in Las Vegas, where regional champions from across the country compete for the title of “World’s Best Bricklayer.” The national event, held during the World of Concrete show, draws thousands of spectators and has offered more than $125,000 in prizes, including cash, equipment, and a new truck.

Amy Davis-Moore, communications director for ApprenticeshipNC, said the event’s energy reflected the impact of these programs. 

She also highlighted the week’s full slate of competitions, including carpentry, electrical, and HVAC/R contests, as well as the first annual ApprenticeshipNC Expo, which brought together 12 apprenticeship sponsors, including community colleges, to educate the public about apprenticeship opportunities.

“We look forward to this day every year. It’s the time we get to see what our apprentices are actually learning,” Davis-Moore said.

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Editor’s note: Ben Humphries contributed to this report.