The inaugural Valley Field Days brought together families, contractors, housing organizations and local businesses last month for a hands-on community event designed to showcase the construction industry while drawing attention to one of Vermont’s biggest challenges: housing.
Organized by Kingsbury Companies and held at Kenyon’s field in Waitsfield, the event combined live construction demonstrations, equipment displays, on-site building projects and family activities intended to introduce attendees to careers in the trades and strengthen connections across the community.
Kingsbury Companies superintendent Cody Balch said the event was created to make conversations about housing and workforce development more visible and accessible.
“We wanted to create something that people could experience firsthand,” Balch said. “Valley Field Days was designed to bring together the construction industry, families and housing organizations in one place while showing how connected housing and workforce development really are.”
Throughout the day, contractors demonstrated equipment and construction techniques while attendees explored projects being built on-site. Families participated in a Kid Zone featuring field day games, bounce houses and a dunk tank.
Community organizations also took part, including Habitat for Humanity and Downstreet Housing & Community Development, offering information and connecting with residents.
Balch said the event was intentionally built around a larger issue facing Vermont: the relationship between the state’s housing shortage and the need to attract more young workers into skilled trades.
“There’s a real connection between the lack of available housing and the shortage of people entering the trades,” Balch said. “This event was an opportunity to put that challenge in front of people in a way that feels engaging and practical.”
Organizers said turnout and community participation exceeded expectations and described the day as equal parts community gathering, workforce awareness effort and demonstration of local solutions.
Planning is underway for future Valley Field Days events, organizers said.
