The Clark County Parks Foundation organized the first Dozer Day in 2005 on an empty construction site, giving kids a chance to operate big construction rigs with the help of experienced volunteers. Nearly 20 years later, close to 15,000 people attended the most recent Dozer Day weekend, Oct. 5 and 6 at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds. The event has spread to Yakima, Puyallup and Eugene, Ore., as well as Nebraska, Tennessee, Missouri and Idaho.
Now kids around the country can read about Dozer Day in a children’s book due to be released Tuesday, “Dozer Day Paves the Way,” by Sammi Nutter Charlton. She’s the daughter of Jerry and Renee Nutter, founders of the Nutter Family Foundation, which took over the event in 2008. Earlier this year, the National Utilities Contractors Association acquired the rights and plans to take Dozer Day nationwide.
“My hope is that a few kids out there read this and maybe they’ll attend a Dozer Day, sparking a new interest,” Nutter Charlton said. “You can’t assume that every child wants to be in construction, but I’m hoping that a couple kids will realize this is a career that’s not frowned upon.”
Nutter Charlton, 25, is a third-grade teacher and Washington State University graduate who lives in East Wenatchee. She wrote the book because careers in construction and the trades in general “aren’t talked about enough,” she said. She’s aiming to spread that message to a wider audience and hopes that “maybe this book floating around inspires a kid or teenager.”
The book, illustrated by Tamara Joubert and available from Barnes & Noble, Target, Amazon and publisher Ballast Books, is geared toward ages 4 to 8. The story follows Dozer Dan, who grows up attending Dozer Day events and becomes interested in construction. He returns to Dozer Day as a volunteer, helping another generation of kids get excited about the construction industry.
Dozer Day might have started as just a fun event for kids and families, but the Nutter Family Foundation sees it as a means to inspire young people to pursue a career in construction or other trades. So although Dozer Day still offers plenty of fun for little tykes and their families, it also features a career fair that this year drew 1,000 high school juniors and seniors to meet potential employers in the trades, according to the Nutter Family Foundation.
“There’s a high push for college but I don’t think college is necessarily the correct path for everybody,” Nutter Charlton said. “People should realize there are careers out there that don’t need a college degree. You don’t have to go to a four-year college and be in debt for a long time for something you’re not passionate about.”
Though the National Utilities Contractors Association hopes to bring Dozer Day to cities across the country, the Nutter Family Foundation will continue to oversee Clark County’s Dozer Day with help from 48 company sponsors. Proceeds from the event are returned to the community in the form of grants and awards to local nonprofits serving children. Altogether, the foundation has given $2.2 million to the community, according to the Nutter Family Foundation. For a full list of these donations visit dozerday.org/impact/.
The next Dozer Day in Clark County is planned for Oct. 4 and 5, 2025. To learn more, visit dozerday.org.
