Duval Asphalt & ATS Host Youngest “Industry Professionals” for Plant & Lab Tour
BY Molly Berry
Longterm Workforce Development: Duval encourages the next generation with hands-on asphalt learning
Duval Asphalt Products, Inc. (Duval Asphalt) and Asphalt Testing Solutions & Engineering, LLC (ATS) recently welcomed three special guests to its asphalt plant and testing laboratories: two 4-year-olds and one 6-year-old with a big curiosity about heavy equipment, big trucks, and how asphalt is made.
What could have been a simple tour quickly became an unforgettable, hands-on learning experience, thanks to a team determined to make asphalt science come alive at a kindergarten level.
A mom in the North Florida community reached out because her daughter was interested in heavy equipment and “how things work.” The team at Duval Asphalt and ATS did our industry proud with their response, welcoming the children in for a hands-on tour and training the kids won’t soon forget.
“A simple phone call because ‘my daughter loves big trucks and YouTube videos that teach her how things work’ transformed into a meticulously curated tour for a group of curious [kids],” said Jacy Fazio, mother of one of the special guests. “All my parent friends know the feeling of wanting to seize the day when the kids are out of school to create core memories. Duval Asphalt and ATS truly exceeded our expectations.”
To explain how asphalt mix is created, team members used Coco Krispie treats as a delicious and relatable demonstration. The cereal represented aggregate, while the melted marshmallow/butter mixture served as the binder, helping the children see how individual components combine to create something strong and cohesive.
Inside the ATS Binder Lab, technical testing was reimagined using Play-Doh. Binder lab technicians demonstrated how tests like Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) and ductility work by manipulating and stretching the Play-Doh. They even added rubber ducks to the ductility bath for a little extra fun.
“As a girl-mom and an engineer, my favorite part was all the women everywhere we turned—in the testing labs, in the control tower, etc. So awesome to see so many females in the construction industry.”—Jacy Fazio
In the plant, operators showed the young visitors how asphalt is loaded into dump trucks, while quality control technicians introduced them to asphalt cores and pills and explained volumetric testing in simple, interactive ways.
The learning continued in the mix design and performance testing labs, where the children created their own “asphalt mixes” by combining different sizes of aggregate. They also met Lucy, the EZ Street robot, and had the opportunity to sit in the driver’s seats of a sweeper and an asphalt paver, definitely a highlight of the day for the heavy equipment enthusiasts.
“We’re deeply grateful to have this business in our community,” Fazio said. “They went above and beyond in planning engaging activities for the kids to enjoy while they learned…We had the absolute best time watching our kids learn about construction and specifically asphalt. As a girl-mom and an engineer, my favorite part was all the women everywhere we turned—in the testing labs, in the control tower, etc. So awesome to see so many females in the construction industry.”
Each child left with Coco Krispie treats, Play-Doh, ATS rubber ducks, aggregates from their custom mix designs, asphalt pills, and toy CAT loader trucks to remember their day, but more importantly, they left with a firsthand look at the people, science, and innovation behind modern asphalt production.
“At Duval Asphalt and ATS, we believe education and industry pride start early,” said Molly Berry, Duval Asphalt & ATS Marketing Professional. “If we’ve sparked a lifelong interest in infrastructure, engineering, or construction, we consider that a success. We hope to see them back as part of our team in about 14 years.”
Duval Asphalt and ATS remain committed to community engagement, workforce development, and showcasing the professionalism, innovation, and opportunity within the asphalt industry…for visitors of all ages.
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How to Share Asphalt with the Next Generation
Will you work with a Girl Scout/Boy Scout troop or summer school program over the next few months? It’s a great opportunity to show kids how “cool” a job in the asphalt industry can be. To help kids understand the nuances of asphalt construction, Duval Asphalt and ATS used materials children are familiar with. Here are some great ideas.
- Use Coco Krispie treats to demonstrate how asphalt mix is created. The cereal represents aggregate; the melted marshmallow and butter mix represents the binder. (Depending on the age of your audience, you can introduce the vocabulary word “viscosity.”)
- You can talk about ductility with Play-Doh.
- Do you have a partnership with a local Case, Deere or other equipment dealer who would donate plastic or die-cast equipment models? Use those to help demonstrate an aspect of the paving operation and send youngsters home with a piece of equipment they’ll cherish.
- Check out the Asphalt Lane children’s activity book AsphaltPro offers for an inexpensive community relations tool. It’s a great leave-behind item or goodie-bag stuffer to help kids understand how an asphalt road gets made.
What other ideas do you have for explaining aspects of our industry on a child’s level? Share them on our social media platforms to help everyone spread the good word about this amazing industry.