“ A craftsman puts their heart and soul into what they do. You can really see it in what they make.”

– Ethan Harrison, Student and Woodworker, Blackfoot, Idaho

Ethan Harrison has a goal. He wants to open his own furniture studio, where he can produce one-of-a kind pieces that satisfy his passion for design and challenge his woodworking skills. The path to his dream, he knows, will require more than just youthful ambition. He’ll need to hone his skills—a lifelong endeavor he’s already begun.

Ethan jumped fully into woodworking after a shop teacher told him that he had true talent. He took the encouragement and quickly became a rising star within SkillsUSA, the organization that works to ensure the United States has a skilled workforce and with which Fine Homebuilding has a dedicated Keep Craft Alive scholarship. Within SkillsUSA, students train and compete in a variety of trade disciplines. Ethan has competed in cabinetmaking and has done so well that he represented the U.S. at the WorldSkills Competition in Kazan, Russia, this summer.

To meet his goal, Ethan will need to understand how to run a business as well as he can cut dovetails. He’s already spent time working in a cabinet shop, and is seeking a position within an architectural millwork firm. He graduated at the top of his class with the intention of one day going to business school. It’s all in an effort to strengthen his background, so that years from now he’ll be well positioned to step into his own shop with confidence.

At an age where endless opportunity exists for those who seek it out, Ethan is patient beyond his years. In life, as in his work, he’s specific in his movements, taking only careful, measured steps. It’s the life of a craftsman.

— Rob Yagid, executive director, Keep Craft Alive

Photo: courtesy of SkillsUSA

From Fine Homebuilding #286