That Masonry Girl shows young students that brick-and-mortar can be a dream job

by | Jul 16, 2026 | Pinned 1: Main, Uncategorized

Ashton White Fairchild is taking to the road to meet students, high school and younger, in person to point out the value of working in masonry. She, yes, she is a national champion bricklayer from Salisbury, NC. Her tour made a stop at Pine Hall Brick Company’s plant in Madison, NC, where she learned about modern techniques in brick manufacturing. Above: Fairchild with Pine Hall Brick Vice President – Sales & Marketing Ted Corvey. All photos: Ashton White Fairchild.

Fairchild is singing our song: We make millions of clay bricks every year, so we know better than most how important skilled masons are. They build what we make into houses and commercial buildings and schools and walkways and patios; into places where all of us live, work, and play.

This summer, Fairchild is behind the wheel of a massive Dodge van, touring brick plants, including a stop at the Pine Hall Brick plant in Madison, NC. She’s also visiting schools to give demonstrations to high school and community college students, to spread the word about the value of masonry as a career.

On the road for education

Fairchild, 27, spends her days as the Masonry Promotion and Outreach Coordinator for the North Carolina Masonry Contractor’s Association.

Good job for somebody who knows something about masonry. Turns out that Fairchild knows a lot about masonry, which she can (a) teach and (b) do, given that she is the first two time back-to-back female national champion in the SkillsUSA Masonry Competition.

A while back, Fairchild did an interview with Construction Ready, a website blog from the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia, a non-profit representing members of construction trades, which recognized the need for skilled workers and banded together to provide free training.

Years ago, Fairchild got her start at West Rowan High School, where the CTE (Career and Technical Education) program offered masonry and carpentry classes. She continued her studies at UNC-Charlotte and graduated with a 4.0 average in May 2022 with a BS degree in Construction Management.

Here’s a sample from a Q&A that Fairchild did with Construction Ready.

How did you get interested in the skilled trades, and in masonry in particular?

I watched the SkillsUSA State Masonry Competition my sophomore year of high school, and it immediately captured my attention. I thought it was so neat these students were able to build something by themselves with no other help. I didn’t see many females, and looked at it as an opportunity to show that females could be in a male-dominated field too.

What do you enjoy about masonry?

I enjoy that masonry is hands-on, and I’m able to do something myself. I get to look back at what I’ve done and be proud that I’ve accomplished something on my own. On a job, it takes teamwork, but in a competition it’s just me and what I know. I take pride in what I do and feel like I’m not just building something for someone else, but building a good life for myself.

What competitions and awards have you won? 

I won the North Carolina SkillsUSA State Masonry Competition in 2018 and 2019, which qualified me for Nationals. I went on to win the SkillsUSA National Masonry Competition those two years, becoming the first female to do so!

What are some of your favorite memories or special moments from your time in the skilled trades so far?

My favorite memories are all the fun times I’ve had at competitions. It’s not just about competing, but getting to know people in the industry and making friends. I’ve met so many great people through competing, and it has opened so many doors for me. I love being able to represent women in the industry, help get others excited to be in the trades and show that it’s a field for anyone.

What is your message to women who aspire to a career in the skilled trades?

You can do it! Just because others say, “It’s a man’s job,” that doesn’t mean there’s no room for you or that you can’t do it. You can do anything you want! If it’s your passion, pursue it. There are so many other women in the trades out there that will support and cheer you on.”

Supporting Masonry Careers

We at Pine Hall Brick Company are happy that Fairchild is here, because we’re both in the business of encouraging young people to explore skilled trades as potential careers.

We’re planning on keeping up with That Masonry Girl. If you want to keep up with her projects, watch demonstrations, or learn about her outreach events, check out her updates across social media, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.