Rio Grande Fence Co. of Nashville installation crew members competed in the Company’s 2nd Annual Fence Skills Championship™ on Saturday, Aug. 12 at their facility. With over 30 installers competing, individual winners and overall gold, silver, and bronze medalists were determined by work quality and speed in eight critical commercial fencing skills.

"Here at Rio Grande, we provide our staff with unique opportunities such as the Fence Skills Championship™ to showcase our professional installers' speed and precision," said Derek Smith, chief operating officer. "The event allows our installers to challenge themselves and co-workers to see where all their training has paid off."

The six individual commercial fencing skills judged were Weaving Chain Link Wire, Chain Link Fabric Installation, Graduating Chain Link Wire, Gate Fabrication, Post Hole Digging, and Ameristar Montage Panel Installation. The two team events were a fence rental installation and a security cage installation. Crew members were judged based on overall quality of the work and the least amount of time required to complete each skill. Individual rankings for the eight skills were then compiled to determine Rio Grande's overall bronze, silver, and gold medal performers.

The event was again recorded by professional videographers, adding to Rio Grande Fence Co.'s in-house library of videos that are used by the Company and crew leaders for training and orientation.

Reflecting on his first time viewing and judging the event, Rio Grande project manager Hunter Newton, said, "I’ve never worked for a more professional company that knows how to not just offer their employees a job, but offer them a place where they can grow."

"We are The Commercial Fence Professionals™, not here just locally in Tennessee but also on a national level," Smith said. "Our goal is still to take the Fence Skills Championship™ to a larger platform in the fencing industry."

Since 1958, Rio Grande Fence Co. of Nashville has been installing and repairing fence for commercial and industrial projects in the Mid-South region. Rio Grande’s work can be seen at Nashville’s police precincts, Nissan Stadium, Nashville International Airport, and many other businesses, sports facilities and government projects.

Rio Grande Fence Co. of Nashville prominently displays the phrase, The Commercial Fence Professionals™, because it quickly explains what RGF does, who they do it for and in what manner they’re going to do it. RGF sets high standards but expectations are clearly communicated and their motto is a daily reminder of what makes RGF the best professional fence installer. As a three-time winner of the AFA National Contractor of the Year Award, the phrase is a fitting one.