This summer, I built three flowerboxes as a graduation gift for my girlfriend. I doubt my boxes would pass North Carolina Department of Labor standards, but they looked very nice (thanks in part to my girlfriend’s great paint job).
If you would like to see craftsmen who can pass NCDOL standards, visit the tents at the Apprentice Contest Pavilion between Gates 9 and 10 next week for the best in carpentry, masonry, electrical, plumbing and HV/AC-R competition. The contests showcase more than 50 of about 20,000 people in North Carolina receiving apprenticeship training on the job. Everyone will enjoy watching and interacting with these craftsmen, especially young people interested in skilled construction trades.
Several of the competitions will last four hours or more, so stop by several times during the day to watch the progress of the construction. Prizes will be awarded by Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry around 2:30 p.m. each day.
Here’s a run down of the competition schedule:
Monday, Oct. 19: 6th annual HV/C-R Contest, starts at 7:30 a.m.
Monday, Oct. 19: 56th annual Bricklaying and Blocklaying Contest, starts at 7:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 21: 25th annual Electrical Contest, starts at 7:15 a.m.
Thursday, Oct. 22: 24th annual Carpentry Contest, starts at 8 a.m.
Friday, Oct. 23: 23rd annual Plumbing/Pipefitting Contest, starts at 8:30 a.m.
