Building the Future
A group photo of the exhibitors at the beginning of last year’s event.
How One Contractor’s Vision Became a Hands-On Learning Event for Thousands.
Three years ago, Brian Webster, owner of Webster Excavating, Inc. had an idea—one that had been sitting in the back of his mind for years.
“Like a lot of things, it was just waiting for the right time,” said Webster. “I kept thinking, how do we get kids excited about construction—not just watching it, but experiencing it?”
That question sparked the launch of Kids Building Michigan, a now-annual, hands-on event that introduces youth to careers in construction and skilled trades through live demos, real equipment and interactive exhibits.
Signing of an actual snow plow that Oakland County Road Commission brought.
Webster started by creating a Facebook group with a few friendly competitors called Start ‘em Young, brainstorming ways to engage youth. That effort soon grew into something bigger.
“We held a vote on the logo, got others involved—like Adam Fodor from Bostwick Excavating and Brian Borich from Ajax Paving—and officially started the 501(c)(3),” Webster said. “My wife Tammy, who also works as our office manager at Webster Excavating, was a huge help to launch this event and she takes care of a lot to make it happen each year.”
Their mission was clear: invest in the future of construction.
“Most kids today are encouraged to go to college,” Webster noted. “That’s great, but as a small business owner, I’ve always seen how trades get viewed as second best. We wanted to change that perception—and we knew we had to get creative to do it.”
The first event took place in a 13-acre field and, by Webster’s own admission, was a bit of a mystery.
“We didn’t know what we were going to have—just that we didn’t want a ‘tire-kicking’ kind of event with trucks sitting around. We wanted kids to get in, get dirty, and actually do the work.”
The demo area where kids could try their hand digging with mini excavators.
The event featured mini-excavators, directional drilling and dewatering demos. Detroit Edison even set a utility pole on-site, showing kids how line workers operate. One of the crowd favorites? A live paving demonstration, where sand was pushed through the paver right in the field.
“More than 500 people came that first year. It blew us away,” Webster said. “Last year, we had over 700 kids and more than 2,500 attendees total.”
Despite early pushback on allowing kids to operate real equipment, Webster stood firm on safety and structure. Stating it is possible to absolutely do this safely if you plan and supervise it right.
Each year, the event grows—not just in numbers, but in purpose.
“We’re now focusing more on high schoolers, ages 15 to 18,” said Webster. “That’s the age when they’re thinking about careers. Younger kids are great, but the older ones are the ones who can walk away thinking, ‘Maybe I want to do this for a living.’”
To help expand outreach, Webster has partnered with the park in Oxford and the school district that uses Peachjar to connect with local families. A mobile-friendly app called Zeffy also helps with pre-registration, making it easier for families to sign up.
As the event grows, so does the need for help. Webster said they’re always looking for volunteers and exhibitors. Right now, the event is specifically oping to find an electrician and a plumber who can bring a hands-on activity.
Whether you’re looking to donate, volunteer or simply show up and support, Webster says the mission stays the same: It’s all about showing kids that there’s a future in this industry—and that they can be a part of building it.
To get involved in the event, or to learn more, visit kidsbuildingmichigan.org or email info@kidsbuildingmichigan.org. This year’s Kids Building Michigan event takes place on September 7th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Seymour Lake Park in Oxford.
