Hammering It Home: Brothers win BILD building contest

By Lethbridge Herald on March 14, 2026.

Herald Photo by Joe Manio Maikal and William Lowry pose with the winning crate they built in 75 minutes during the 2026 ÒWho Built the BestÓ student building competition at the Southern Alberta Home, Garden & Leisure Show on Friday.

By Joe Manio

Lethbridge Herald

The sound of hammers striking nails echoed across the exhibition floor as students leaned over workbenches, measuring, sawing and sanding against the clock. At this year’s “Who Built It the Best” competition, the challenge was simple — but far from easy: build a small wooden crate using only hand tools in just 75 minutes. By the end of Saturday’s contest at the Southern Alberta Home, Garden & Leisure Show, brothers Maikal and William Lowry had nailed down the winning entry. “I did not expect we’d get this far,” said William after the judging wrapped up. “But we did. It was pretty good.” The annual competition, organized by BILD Lethbridge, featured six teams of two Grade 10 to 12 students competing each day. Teams were judged on workmanship, teamwork and safety while assembling their crates in front of a live audience. For the Lowry brothers, the experience proved both challenging and rewarding. “It feels pretty good,” said Maikal, 18. “In my head I was a little unsteady with the nailing. We probably could have sanded it a little better, but we figured it out.” William admitted he didn’t plan to enter at first. “I didn’t really want to do it,” he said with a laugh. “But he signed me up… and I’m glad he did. It was fun.” Their father, who is also William Lowry, watched from the sidelines. A former carpenter who now teaches shop classes at Prairie Winds Secondary School in Coaldale, he said the moment was a proud one. “I’m pretty proud of them,” he said. “There were moments where I thought they were going a little slow and might not finish on time. But they brought it together in the end.” Lowry said his sons have spent years helping with projects, gaining hands-on experience that likely helped during the competition. “I usually take them with me when I’m doing side projects, so they’ve been building with me for a while,” he said. But he also sees events like this as a chance to highlight the value of skilled trades. “I tell my students all the time to take a trade,” he said. “You get paid to learn, gain a practical skill, and you can always move on later if you want.” The contest itself was organized by a BILD Lethbridge committee, with Lisa Schmidt helping design this year’s crate-building challenge. “I based the project on what could be built using only hand tools,” Schmidt explained. “And something simple enough students could complete in 75 minutes.” Schmidt said she was impressed watching students adapt and improve over the two days. “It’s great to see how much they advance in that short time,” she said. “They’re learning teamwork, communication and how to follow instructions. Those are life skills.” Judges also watched closely to see how teams worked together under pressure. “The effort these kids put in was fantastic,” said judge Myles Fletcher. “The amount of work they completed in an hour and 15 minutes was incredible.” Fletcher said teamwork was one of the biggest factors in determining the winners. “The biggest thing we look for is teamwork,” he said. “All the teams worked very well together.” BILD Lethbridge CEO Bridget Pastoor said the competition continues to grow each year and helps encourage young people to explore careers in the trades. “I’m really impressed with the students who put themselves forward in a competition like this,” she said. “Seventy-five minutes is not a lot of time to complete the project, so it takes courage to jump in.” Pastoor noted the participants are students in a dual-credit program connected to the Southern Alberta Collegiate Institute. “These are kids who have already expressed an interest in carpentry and the trades,” she said. With support from sponsors, schools and industry partners, organizers hope the event continues to inspire the next generation of builders. For the Lowry brothers, the experience also came with a simple piece of advice for future competitors. “Don’t wait to sign up,” said Maikal. “It’s pretty fun. I’d recommend it.” If organizers have their way, the sound of saws and hammers will return to the show floor next year — along with another group of students ready to prove who built it best.