"Masonry has been in my family for generations, but I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't like it myself," Johnson said.

Johnson is a fourth generation mason. His father owns and operates Harold F. Johnson Masonry Inc., which was started by Johnson's grandfather, who in turn was taught masonry by his father.

A graduate of Cheyenne Central High School, where he played football, Johnson is now a freshman at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, majoring in business administration. On weekends and during breaks from college, Johnson is back in Cheyenne working for the family masonry business.

Johnson credits his father for "teaching me most of what I need to know about the trade ... you know, the details."

His sponsor, Brian Stevenson, has sponsored state representatives to the national masonry competition in seven of his 12 years with SkillsUSA.

Johnson participated in the national masonry competition, held in conjunction with last summer's annual SkillsUSA Leadership Conference at Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Mo.