Fargo, N.D. – A recent graduate of Davies High School placed second last month in a national competition that tests a variety of real-world skills that employers look for when hiring for new jobs.
18-year old Lance Harter, who just graduated this year, received a silver medal in the carpentry division during the 2025 Skills USA National Leadership and Skills Conference.
The competition was held from June 23rd to June 27th in Atlanta, Georgia.
“I pretty much went in there thinking whatever happens [will] happen, did my best and it went great,” said Harter.
SkillsUSA is a student organization that fosters workforce development in a variety of job trades.
The trades range from cabinet-making, to nursing, welding and auto body to name just several.
Back in April, Harter finished first in the North Dakota state competition in Bismarck before bringing his talents to the bigger national stage.
At the state level, students were asked to build a certain structure within a 4-hour timeframe.
Competitors were told to erect a wall with braces, and a rafter that came down on two different walls at two different heights.
Harter finished that project in half that time allotted.
Listen: 18-year old Lance Harter talks about his silver medal finish at the national SkillsUSA TeamWorks competition
“It was a little nerve-racking that I was done that quick [in Bismarck] just looking around seeing everyone still working. I ended up killing it.”
As part of the national event, all participants were asked to build a four-foot-by-six-foot doghouse with a shed and gable dormer within 8 hours.
While none of the competitors actually completed the project by the evaluation period, Harter knows he was right up there with the best of them at the end and “even with a better day could have taken first.”
For his second place finish, Harter was also given thousands of dollars worth of tools and grant money.
“It was a great experience and gave me a lot of confidence and an opportunity to get my name out there, too,” said Harter.
Harter says his passion for the trades began at an early age.
“Instead of watching cartoons, I watched shows [like] ‘Holmes on Holmes’ and HGTV and really fell in love with it.”
In seventh grade, Harter worked a summer with a landscaper dealing with concrete, and shifting to homebuilding.
For the past two years, Harter has worked with a framing contractor as he begins to launch his own business.
“It humbles me a lot when I go to these competitions and watch our kids compete at that high of a level,” said Davies construction teacher Ron Streit who was there to watch his former student in Atlanta.
“He’s very efficient with what he does,” said Streit. “Lance’s joint [work] and measurements were very sharp this year.”
Streit says it’s important that Fargo Public Schools offers construction classes, not just for kids who might want to pick up a trade.
“[One day] everybody is going to own a home [and it’s about] becoming a good consumer,” said Streit. “Can you fix stuff on your own instead of paying carpenters amazing amounts of money right now.”
Streit says around 30 students were in his ‘Construction 1’ class which consists of safety and problem-solving skills.
Sixteen other kids at Davies were in a more advanced class this past academic year geared toward building homes.
Streit says many of his former students are in “management within two or three years” of entering their trade.
“It’s amazing to watch these kids as they go through problem solving,” says Streit.
Streit says they build a few houses every year with students and teach about home ownership.
And his classes aren’t just for boys.
“Girls are homeowners too,” said Streit, who says next year’s introductory class size will consist of up to 8 female students. “The doors open up super huge to the girls [in construction].”
Meanwhile, Harter is starting his own business, with jobs lined up for the summer and plans to build his first home this fall.
And Streit has no problem giving his former ace student a plug for his budding residential construction career.
“If Lance comes to your house to do some work it’s going to be great when he’s done.”
You can find out more about Harter Construction by doing a Google search, or call him at (701) 212-7200.
