SPEAKER_02 0:00

Hey guys, I am back. It's been a crazy couple months with moving the shop and getting ready for the fabricator Olympic and the welding business on it, and executing that and then doing all the after cleanup. It has just been crazy. But we are back here with the podcast ready to go. I just want to say this year was a huge success for the fabricator limits and the welding business on it. And we had twenty-two different states come and Mexico come in for the Fabricator Limited and the Summit. For the first year, it was a huge success. Sixty-five people came to get their business back in order and rocket ship it to the next level. John and Chad and Tyson and Burton absolutely crushed it with all the information and value that they brought to the table for that entire day. It was a long day. It was twelve hours ago on the dot. But holy cow, there's so much to learn there. If you couldn't be there, I totally get it. Family, work, relationship priorities. It's a crazy time of year. But don't worry. Next week we're gonna have something special for you guys. You guys are gonna be able to have access to the actual recordings and workshops that we had. We're polishing it all up, we're putting in all the slides, we're giving you all the material that the guys on the site got. So give me a couple more days. We're aiming for October 1st, October 2nd for the launch date on that. So when we're 100% done with it, I'll be sure to let you guys know that it's ready. You'll be able to go access it, and hopefully it'll change your life and your business. The Fabricator Olympics this year was absolutely the best one yet. We had such great people attend, the relationships and the fun that was had there, hanging out, talking with other guys in the industry who actually understand what you do. The competitions were great. We had some serious challenges this year, and they did a really fantastic job. Lincoln Electric blew it out of the water this year. The first place winner walked away with a square wave 205 Taylor and a brand new Lincoln Plasma Cutter. It was just it was an awesome time. And we're gearing up to do it again next year. Mark your calendars now for October 2nd of 2027. That's Saturday, October 2nd, 2027. We'll be the Fabricator Olympics again here in Kempton, Pennsylvania. And if you're interested in coming to the welding business summit, we're actually moving that from a one-day to a two-day event. So that's gonna be September 30th and October 1st of 2027. That's gonna be a two-day event, but the speakers had so much information to give out in their workshops that we couldn't even do it in one day. Like it was a long day, it was a hard day. It was like drinking from a fire hose. It really was. So we want to spread it out a little bit so that you guys have time to digest it, really take it in and implement it in your shops come Monday morning. Now I know a lot of you guys and girls who are on here haven't actually been to the fabricator Olympics. What is it about? How does it run? What does it look like there? So last year we made a video in partnership with Lincoln Electric to show what the fabricator actually is. And I'm dropping that right here, right now, today. Some of you guys might have seen it on YouTube, but what is today's episode? I want to give it to you right here, right now. If you guys don't know, you're actually able to watch this podcast on your podcast player. As long as your podcast player can actually do it. So Apple Podcast, Spotify, all the major ones, you can actually watch the video. So if you're listening to this audio only, take a minute, pull your phone out, watch the video because the whole thing's not gonna make sense unless you actually watch the video. So if you guys want to see what the Fabricated Olympics is actually like without being there, this is your chance. Check it out, let me know what you think. Leave me a five-star review on your favorite podcast player. Leave me a comment wherever you can. I appreciate that. I read all of them, even though it might take me a little bit of time to get back to you. I appreciate every one of you guys and girls out there listening. And without any further ado, here is the recap for the 2025 Fabricator Olympics.

SPEAKER_08 4:20

Thank you for all of us for making this happen. We've got seven competitions for you guys. We've got the written challenge part of the Fabricator Olympics. Do not open up the folder. This is a 21 question written test. And we have six judges who are gonna record your number and your time as soon as you say that you're done. Got it? If you just say done without your number, we don't know who you are. So you gotta say your number when you say you're done, and then we're gonna record your time. Does anybody have any questions? I'm watching you guys.

SPEAKER_00 5:54

I'm Melissa Johnson, and my husband and I um created the Fabricator Olympics.

SPEAKER_02 5:59

My wife and I started this about three years ago.

SPEAKER_00 6:01

This is our third annual. It's just been a really incredible time to get together with um people in the industry and to see their skills and um just to watch the awesome connections that they make and the talent.

SPEAKER_02 6:13

We started this to bring fabricators from all around the country together in order to see who's the best. Uh I felt like there was a gap in the skill trades guys and girls who go out there and get it done every day. All the competitions that were out there were for students, and they were all about welding. And with my Fab Shop, I knew that 90% of what we did was fabrication, and only 10% of it was welding. So I felt like it was underrepresented. So we started the Fabricare Olympics.

SPEAKER_00 6:41

We had no idea when we started that it was going to be quite as successful as it has become. It's something that people look forward to all year long, and they tell a friend, and their friend tells a friend, and we just have a cool, like, little cult following of people who've been here in the past, and I feel like once you're here once, you're here again, you know, and it's something you look forward to the following year.

SPEAKER_02 7:00

What we're looking to do with the Fabricator Olympics is bring people from all around the country to show off the skills. This is our third year. We've grown our event every single year since. We have some great, great sponsors. We only deal with the best companies out in the industry. Our goal with this is to take it on the road and do this all around the country so that people don't have to fly in from all across the country like they do now. It'll be a short drive for them at a big city or a small city, wherever they're at. But right now we have uh competitors from all around the country. We even have a our host is from Mexico. David Madero came out from Mexico. This is my first Fabricator Olympics. We have people from Washington, California, Texas, Maine, and Florida.

SPEAKER_04 7:45

Hi, my name is Adam Connor. I'm out here at the Fabricators Olympics. We're representing Flashback Customs. If you think you can come and take the Texas boys out, then come on out September 12th.

SPEAKER_02 7:55

So our idea is to make them not travel so far and bring it closer to them.

SPEAKER_00 7:59

Just excited to be a part of something that really sheds positive light on the industry.

SPEAKER_05 8:05

Would you recommend other people to come volunteer and help out with the program?

SPEAKER_01 8:09

Yes, definitely. You can like win prizes from the games.

SPEAKER_02 8:12

Alright, let's do this 50-50. Shake them around.

SPEAKER_01 8:16

When it, especially if you're competing here, you could win a welder if you're first place.

SPEAKER_02 8:21

You won, man. Come on up and get your cash. Burton Marham, he flew it. He drove in, he rented a car. So, first of all, true metal art style. He made a piece of art to sell to fund his trip here. And then he rented a car, got in it. How long did you drive? Like 16 hours or something like that? Was it 13 hours? All the way here to compete in this. So thank you guys.

SPEAKER_10 8:49

My name's David Sitz. I'm here with Sites Fabrication. I'm here competing to be the best fabricator. I am here to prove I am the best fabricator. If you think you can do better than me next year, September 12th. Let's see ya.

SPEAKER_06 9:04

It's just an amazing day. I had no idea what to expect when Kevin and Melissa invited us. And it's just unbelievable the amount of just uh people that are here, the the volunteers, everybody's so welcoming and friendly, and and the way they have all these different booths set up for these boys and and girls to just show their skills with the fabrication. It's it's been uh really a neat day. I recommend everybody else to come check it out next year. Um I'm sure it'll be even bigger. It started three years ago in a garage, and now they're filling up uh two huge pavilions here at the Kempton Fair. So um come on check it out and support the the Fabricator Olympics. Are you the best in the world?

SPEAKER_07 9:42

Absolutely, hands down. So if you think you could beat me, come to the Fabricating Olympics. When's that September 12th?

SPEAKER_05 9:48

This is my first year. Uh, I'm an attendee and uh I'm enjoying walking around the show. I really enjoy welding. Uh I love all types of welding, so it's fun to see the different machines. It's fun to see all the different welding rigs. My favorite, I guess, is the welding truck show uh and see all the different versions of you know welding rigs. I'll definitely be back next year. So thank you.

SPEAKER_00 11:01

People come together and be willing to help.

SPEAKER_02 11:03

And if you have a question and your judge doesn't know, keep working. They'll come find me and we'll work it out together. Don't stop.

SPEAKER_09 11:11

I can't believe everything that I've seen, just amazing stuff. This is the first year that Kevin has decided to do the metal art portion. And just so everybody knows, they had only six hours to do this. This is just a little taste, right? A little appetizer of what they can do, but still unbelievable stuff. Thank you guys. Thank you so much. Also, another round of applause for the artists. Kevin, glue me up. Thousands and thousands of miles to be up here. Kevin, this is one of the best experiences of my life. Thank you again, my man. Hell yeah. Thank you, my man.

SPEAKER_02 12:58

We've got a Walter Hood, uh, a stick of magic stick, and a Wilson hat for Adam Wilson.

SPEAKER_09 13:08

I had a tadpole.

SPEAKER_02 13:09

Yeah, good job, dude. Fourth place, we've got a Lincoln helmet, some respir a respirator, and the Fabricator Olympics trophy. Fourth place with an hour and 18 minutes goes to Steve Fryer. Dude, congrats, man.

SPEAKER_05 13:32

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 13:33

Nice work.

SPEAKER_05 13:34

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 13:34

Got that. Get your helmet. Get your hat. There you go, man. Nice job, dude. Third place, we've got some awesome stuff donated by Wilson. We got a backpack, we got a helmet, we got uh a jacket here with a time of one hour, 15 minutes, and 18 seconds. Steve Sainsbury.

SPEAKER_03 14:07

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 14:07

Great job, dude. Great job. No, you hold it. That's yours now. You grab another check bag now. There we go. Don't forget your magic stick. Second place with a time of one hour and eleven minutes. Richard West. Nice work, man. You did awesome. Here. Got stuff. We're gonna load you up. I need a wagon. So get with Melissa, get your sizes, because you also got a full origin clothing set. The American-made boots, the uh the hoodies, the work pants, and everything. So that only leaves one person left with a time of 59 minutes and 29 seconds. David Seitz, dude. Come on up here, bud. Yup. Dep man, nice work, nice work. That's awesome. There, what do you want to hold first? Dude, congrats, man. That's awesome. Great job, guys. Thank you guys for coming. Oh wait, hold on. Hold on. The most important thing. You gotta put this on. Reigning champion till next year. There you go. September 12th, 2026. We are here. We are doing it again. Mark your calendars now. Put your vacation in. It's gonna be here. It's nailed in stone. Thank you guys for coming. I appreciate you guys.

SPEAKER_11 16:12

I am David Sites. I won first place at the Fabricator Olympics. Started my business sites fabrication a little while ago and uh seen this on Facebook and wanted to give it a try. And uh turns out me trying my hardest, I got first place. It's a hard challenge, but I'm glad I got to do it.

SPEAKER_00 16:32

The event in in particular has been uh an incredible success. It's been really awesome to watch how much it's grown over the past three years. Uh, it's something that I look forward to sharing with my children and my children's children, and I can see it growing to that. And so um we really are appreciative of every one of the vendors and the sponsors and the people who are here to make it a special event. So