38th Annual N.C. State Fair Plumber Apprentice Contest

Contest Information:

• DATE: Friday, October 23, 2026, contestant check-in starts promptly at 8:00 a.m.
• LOCATION: N.C. State Fair, behind the Jim Graham Building off of Hillsborough Street
• JUDGING: Upon contest completion, a panel of judges will evaluate the projects according to an official rubric.
• AWARDS: Presented Friday, October 23, 2026, 3:00 p.m., following the completion of judging.
• PREMIUMS: 1st Place: $325, 2nd Place: $225, 3rd Place: $175, 4th Place: $125, 5th Place: $100, 6th-10th Places: $75
• Tools donated by manufacturers and suppliers will be presented to all contestants.
• The first-place winner and their employer will be recognized with plaques at a later date.

Registration Rules & Information:

• Contest registration opens at 8:00 a.m. on July 15, 2026, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on September 4, 2026.
  • A registration link will appear on this page when registration opens. 
• Contestants cannot enter themselves. Their entry forms must be submitted by their employers/program sponsors.
• The contest is limited to Registered Apprentices and Registered Pre-Apprentices enrolled in ApprenticeshipNC recognized plumber/pipefitter programs.
• Preference will be given to Registered Apprentices through September 4, 2026.
  • After this date, remaining spaces will be filled by Registered Pre-Apprentices on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Contestants must be approved for contest participation by their employer, program sponsor, or the Contest Committee.
• Contestants must have completed less than 8,000 hours of training and must not have completed their Registered Apprenticeship or Registered Pre-Apprenticeship Program prior to Friday, October 23, 2026.
• All required documentation must be submitted prior to the start of the contest in order for contestants to compete.
• First place winners are ineligible to compete in future contests.
• Contest is limited to the first 20 qualifying applicants.

Contest Planning Committee:

• Amy Davis-Moore—ApprenticeshipNC
• Dale Dawson—Executive Director of the State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors, Raleigh
• Dale Pruitt—Town of Wake Forest Plumbing Inspector, Wake Forest
• Ed Burleson—Guilford Plumbing Supply, Greensboro & Raleigh
• Jim Lawson—City of High Point Chief Plumbing Inspector, High Point
• Margaret Spainhour—ApprenticeshipNC
• Paul Sandy—City of Raleigh Chief Plumbing Inspector, Raleigh (Ret.)

The State of North Carolina will require the submission of a NC Substitute W-9 prior to making any payment of $600 or greater or any payment that results in a total of $600 or more during one calendar year from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to any individual or entity. All exhibitors are strongly encouraged to complete and upload the NC Substitute W-9 form to prevent any delay in receiving premium prize money.

Due to entry deadline extensions by committees, some contestants, contributors, and/or sponsors may not be listed in the printed program. These individuals and organizations will be acknowledged at the awards presentation. The contest committee reserves the right to make changes prior to the contest date. Updates to any contest will be posted at www.apprenticeshipnc.com/events.

About the Contest:

Now in its 38th year, the N.C. State Fair Plumber Apprentice Contest promotes interest in skilled trades and highlights the next generation of North Carolina’s workforce. The contest is organized by ApprenticeshipNC, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and industry partners and employers. It brings together the state’s top plumber apprentices compete head-to-head to demonstrate their technical skill, knowledge, and precision.