72nd Annual N.C. State Fair Masonry Apprentice Contest

DIVISION 101 – APPRENTICE CONTESTS

Class 01 – MASONRY

(Bricklaying & Blocklaying)

Contest Information:

• DATE: Monday, October 19, 2026, contestant check-in starts promptly at 8:00 a.m.
• LOCATION: N.C. State Fair, behind the Jim Graham Building off Hillsborough Street
• JUDGING: Upon contest completion, a panel of masons will judge the projects according to an official rubric.
• AWARDS: Presented Monday, October 19, 2026, 1:30 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 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 6,000 hours of training and must not have completed their Registered Apprenticeship or Registered Pre-Apprenticeship Program prior to Monday, October 19, 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.
• The contest is limited to 30 qualifying contestants. ApprenticeshipNC will maintain an alternate list of up to five contestants.

Contest Planning Committee:

• Amy Davis-Moore—ApprenticeshipNC
• Calvin Brodie—Contest Committee Chair—Brodie Contractors, Inc., Raleigh
• Danks Burton—Pinnacle Masonry, Inc., Raleigh
• Doug Burton—Master of Ceremony—Whitman Masonry, Inc., Raleigh
• Margaret Spainhour—ApprenticeshipNC
• Ryan Shaver—NCMCA, Mount Pleasant

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:

Held annually since 1954, the N.C. State Fair Masonry Apprentice Contest promotes interest in skilled trades while showcasing the next generation of North Carolina’s workforce. The contest is organized by ApprenticeshipNC, the North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association, and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It brings together the state’s top masonry apprentices, who compete head-to-head for first prize and the opportunity to represent North Carolina at the World of Concrete in Las Vegas.

For registration or contest related questions, please contact ApprenticeshipNC Communications Assistant Margaret Spainhour at spainhourm@nccommunitycolleges.edu.