MADISON, Wis. (April 10, 2006) – The masonry industry got a glimpse of the future at the Skills USA masonry competition held April 5 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. County Materials donated 500 concrete masonry units and 2,600 brick to the competition.

Ten technical college students and six high school students took part in the event, which scored participants on written knowledge, trowel skills, cleanliness of work area and accuracy of their finished product.

Kevin Schleicher of Lancaster, a student at Southwest Technical College (SWTC) in Fennimore, placed first in the technical school division and will represent Wisconsin at the national Skills USA competition that will be held June 19-24 in Kansas City. Brandon Schaaf of Mineral Point, also a student at SWTC, placed second. Their instructor is Don Borchert. Clint Ervin of New London, a student at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WITC) in Rice Lake, finished third. His instructor is Todd Larson.

Green Bay East High School students swept the high school division with Kelly Demeny placing first. He will represent Wisconsin in the high school division in Kansas City.  Nick Wegener placed second, and Matt Moens was third. Their instructor is Pete Hanchek.

County Materials operates 30 locations serving the Midwest. The family-owned, American-based company is an industry leader in the manufacture and distribution of concrete block, brick, ready-mix, hollowcore, pipe, pavers, retaining walls and Aggregate finish products for residential, commercial and municipal construction and landscaping.

For more information, call us at 1-800-289-2569 and ask for a product guide.