Fifteen tons of Berkshire veneer, donated by the Indiana Limestone Company, formed a significant element among the raw materials used in the 2018 BAC/IMI International Apprentice Contest, held recently at the John J. Flynn National Training Center, Bowie, Md. The company is a premier provider of highly esteemed stone with a wide range of products.

Top apprentices from the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers gathered from across U.S. and Canada to compete in the contest. Twenty-four winners from eight categories - brick, cement, tile, marble, terrazzo, plaster, pointing-cleaning-caulking/restoration, and stone – demonstrated mastery of their crafts through advanced hands-on challenges and written tests.

All of the apprentices had competed in regional contests held by IUBAC locals. The winners were honored in an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

"We like to say that we're the best hands in the business," remarked Jim Boland, President, IUBAC, to a crowd of apprentices and BAC leaders at the ceremony. "And we say that because it's true. Our dedication to high standards is what separates us from the rest, and we maintain that with our training."

Berkshire is a popular entry in the Indiana Limestone Company's Estate Veneer Series. The split faced full color blend natural stone can be used as an accent piece for indoor or outdoor fireplaces, interior or exterior walls, or walkways. Regardless of how it's used, Berkshire delivers the durability and versatility that characterizes Indiana Limestone.

"From our point of view, it's very important to support masonry apprenticeship programs," said Duffe Elkins, Chief Operating Officer of the Indiana Limestone Company. "The skills these developing craftspersons are acquiring make them essential to the markets in which we operate."