Compete Against the Best in the Industry

Words: Dan Kamys

The MCAA is inviting all journeymen masons to compete in the annual Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition at the MCAA Convention at World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas, Feb. 4, 2010.

The Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition showcases the speed and skill of a journeyman mason and how important teamwork is in accomplishing a final product. With a time limit in place, each contestant must make certain decisions based on the judging criteria set forth. Only those journeymen masons who have the skill, confidence and courage to face off with the industry’s best should compete. Winners of the contest will take home more than $10,000 in cash and prizes.

To submit a team (consisting of one journeyman mason and two tenders), visit www.fastesttrowel.com, and download the registration form. Registrations must be received by Dec. 23, 2009. Only 20 stalls are available on a first-come, first-served basis for those who are up to the challenge to prove they are the best.
For more information, contact the MCAA at 800-536-2225, or visit www.fastesttrowel.com.


The Enduring Power of Structural Masonry
July 2025

Masonry has been holding its ground for millennia — literally. And thanks to the simple brilliance of arching action, it continues to do so with strength, style, and surprising efficiency. In an era of advanced modeling and fast-moving schedules, one time

Outreach Outlook: Momentum in Motion
July 2025

As we move into the heart of summer, the masonry industry continues to thrive—fueled by innovation, partnership, and a growing commitment to excellence in education and workforce advancement. June has been a remarkable month, marked by events that not onl

Building More: Slow, Fast, or Consistent. What is Tempo?
July 2025

It was a drizzly midweek day when I rolled up to the project we were working on just outside of town. The foreman paced the scaffolding, rain hood half-zipped, barking at two laborers who were sprinting bricks like they were late for a flight. Forty feet

Marvelous Masonry: Belém Tower
July 2025

The Belém Tower in Lisbon, Portugal, stands as a testament to stone construction's enduring artistry and technical prowess. Erected between 1514 and 1519, this iconic structure served as a defensive bastion at the mouth of the Tagus River and as a ceremon