Duval Asphalt and ATS Host Youngest "Industry Professionals" for Hands-On Plant & Lab Tour

Duval Asphalt Products, Inc (Duval Asphalt) and AsphaltTesting Solutions & Engineering, LLC (ATS) recently welcomed three very special guests to its asphalt plant and testing laboratories: two four-year-olds and one six-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 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 four-year-olds!” 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!

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 tohave this business in our community!” said Fazio. “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 toyCAT 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 MarketingProfessional. “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.

‍