Winners Announced in Dry Stone Walling Competition

Words: Bronzella Cleveland

NovemberDecember 2008
Industry News

Winners Announced in Dry Stone Walling Competition

Masonry Design Magazine

Debra Baker of Nicholasville, Ky., and Michael Watkins of Travelers Rest, S.C.

The Dry Stone Conservancy (Lexington, Ky.) held its fifth annual National Walling Competition in October in Pleasant Hill, Ky., which featured 38 masons from around the nation and even one builder from Scotland. In total, 21 awards were handed out to winners in three levels of expertise: professional, amateur and novice. However, it was the locals who proved to be the best around.

James Miles of Paris, Ky., captured the title in the professional division. The 2008 amateur champion is Seth Thomas of Nicholasville, Ky., and Tim York of Winchester, Ky., took the novice division title.

The competition was held at Shaker Village in Pleasant Hill, home to the nation’s largest collection of rock fence. Competitors were given eight hours to take down and rebuild a dry stone wall that is judged on the efficiency with which the stone at hand is used and accuracy in matching the historic pattern of stonework.

The Dry Stone Conservancy’s Walling Competition is the only competition of its kind in North America. For more information on the program, visit www.drystone.org. MD

From Day One to Long-Term Success: Onboarding Strategies for Contractors
January 2026

The construction industry is facing one of its toughest challenges in decades. Companies are struggling to find enough skilled workers while competing to keep the ones they have. At the same time, projects are becoming more complex, deadlines are tighter,

Matt Dibara
Business Management
Read More
Finding the Right PPE for Your Work
January 2026

When it comes to PPE, one thing’s for sure: safety isn’t one size fits all. The work you’re doing, where you’re doing it, and even what time of year it is, can all make a big difference in what gear actually works. Price, comfort, and job performance all

Greg Brown
Safety Library
Read More
Back Injuries: The Real Cost and How to Prevent Them
January 2026

The mention of back injuries makes mason contractors cringe, and for good reason. Masons lift heavy objects every day, all day long. When a person sustains a back injury, it is serious. It affects every part of their life, from their ability to perform wo

Zach Everett
Safety Library
Read More
Detailing for Durability: The 2026 Guide to High-Performance Stone Veneer Transitions
January 2026

Some of the most expensive failures involving manufactured stone veneer installations don’t come from the stone at all, but rather from the material transitions and flashing around it. Transitions are weak points in the overall cladding where water can fi

Jeff Tew
Technical Talks
Read More
Interested in working with us? Learn about and join the Masonry Alliance Program →