Image courtesy of AGCMO

By CHARLYCE RUTH

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Build My Future is gearing up for a pivotal fall season, with five construction career day events scheduled across Missouri.

Contractors, suppliers, associations, apprenticeship programs, training providers and industry partners are encouraged to reserve their spots now as vendors, sponsors and volunteers.

These events are not your typical career fairs. Build My Future gives high school students the opportunity to step into the construction industry for a day and experience it firsthand. Students don’t just walk past booths and collect brochures; they operate equipment, try tools, explore technology, ask questions, meet industry professionals and begin to picture where they might fit in Missouri’s construction workforce.

For the construction industry, Build My Future is more than a student event. It is a hands-on workforce development opportunity. Each event depends on contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, apprenticeship programs, colleges, utilities, manufacturers and industry partners willing to show students what construction careers actually look like. The more interactive the exhibit, the stronger the impact. A simple skill challenge, equipment display, technology demonstration or conversation with someone in the field can be the moment that sparks a student’s interest in construction.

The fall 2026 schedule includes:

Build My Future Upstate MO
Sept. 16
Macon County Fairgrounds, Macon
Sponsor commitment deadline: Aug. 14

Build My Future Gateway MO
Oct. 7
University of Missouri–St. Louis
1 University Blvd., St. Louis
Sponsor commitment deadline: Sept. 8

Build My Future Southeast MO
Oct. 13
Show Me Center
1333 N. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau
Sponsor commitment deadline: Sept. 11

Build My Future Central MO
Oct. 21
Jefferson City Jaycee Fairgrounds
Sponsor commitment deadline: Sept. 18

Build My Future Northwest MO
October 28, 2026
Northwest Missouri State Fairgrounds
800 S. 8th Street, Bethany
Sponsor commitment deadline: Sept. 25

Build My Future Gateway MO will be held at a new location, the University of Missouri–St. Louis, creating fresh opportunities to reach students throughout the St. Louis region. Build My Future Southeast MO will be held this year at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, continuing the event’s regional rotation and bringing the experience back to a community that has previously shown strong student participation.

Each Build My Future event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and welcomes students for approximately five hours of construction-focused activities. Popular exhibits often include carpentry, concrete and asphalt, heavy equipment, surveying, welding, virtual reality, flooring, tile and other hands-on demonstrations that help students see the variety of opportunities available in the industry.

Sponsorships are available at multiple levels, and vendor participation is strongly encouraged. Sponsorship levels include Program Sponsor at $5,000, Master Sponsor at $2,500, Journeyman Sponsor at $1,000 and Apprentice Sponsor at $500. Vendor space is available for $100, and this fee is waived for all sponsors. All sponsorships, donations and fees are paid to the AGC of Missouri Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization.

Companies do not need to have a polished presentation to make a meaningful impact. Some of the most successful exhibits are simple, creative and hands-on. Let students try a task. Show them a piece of equipment. Give them a small challenge. Talk to them about what a day in the industry really looks like. Those moments matter.

A single conversation at Build My Future can introduce a student to a career path they had never considered. Today’s student could become tomorrow’s apprentice, equipment operator, project manager, estimator, engineer, safety professional, superintendent or business owner.

Build My Future continues to grow because Missouri’s construction industry continues to show up. Contractors and industry partners are encouraged to sign up now to reserve vendor space, sponsor an event, bring equipment, offer demonstrations, provide volunteers and help students discover the opportunities waiting for them in construction.

For vendor and sponsorship information, contact Charlyce Ruth at 417.425.3390 or [email protected], or go to AGCMO.org/BMF.