West Division site makes big impact

Walstrum Quarry Event Raises $12,000 for Local Rotary Club

The Walstrum Quarry team recently hosted a community Touch-a-Truck event, bringing together families, local partners and some of the largest machines in town for a record-breaking day of donations.

Toward the end of 2025, the Idaho Springs, Colorado, quarry hosted the biennial event to support the Clear Creek Rotary Club’s efforts to provide leadership development, college scholarships and trade school opportunities throughout the community.

What initially began as a simple way to raise money and strengthen community connections has grown over the years into a full-scale gathering featuring food trucks, nonprofit booths, first responder demonstrations and equipment displays. Walstrum’s most recent event raised more than $12,000 for the Rotary Club.

Plant Manager Miller Gorny said Touch-a-Truck reflects the quarry team’s long-standing commitment to its neighbors.

The idea, he explained, stems from the quarry’s unique location along I-70, where thousands of people drive by each day without ever seeing the work happening behind the hillside. Opening the site to the public gives families the opportunity to learn about mining, explore equipment and better understand the quarry’s role in the region.

“This event is an opportunity to invite the public in to learn a little more about what we do,” Gorny said. “It’s also an opportunity to educate the youth of the Denver metro area and expose them to mining.”

Office Manager Kyndall Bartholomew spearheaded the event’s planning and fundraising efforts, with 14 members from the quarry and local HR teams there to help. The Martin Marietta group was also aided by about 10 volunteers from the Clear Creek Rotary Club.

In addition to Martin Marietta’s displays and machinery, several partners showcased their contributions to the industry and community. Burke Tyre Company brought several oversized tires that quickly became popular for photos. Buckley Powder Company presented a bulk truck, a drone used for blast design and various blasting components for educational demonstrations. The Clear Creek County Fire Department displayed a fire truck and firefighting gear, and the Alpine Rescue team offered rides in a rescue stretcher. Several organizations, including Komatsu/PMC, Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED), the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Loveland Ski Club and Advocates for Recovery Colorado, also hosted booths to share information and resources.

An estimated 500 visitors explored equipment and displays throughout the day.

Master Mobile Mechanic Frank Buschman, who spent the entire day helping families navigate the machinery, said seeing the community interact at the site was one of the most rewarding parts of the event.

“I love seeing my friends and neighbors come out, but I especially love seeing the kids explore these huge machines and seeing them be awe-inspired,” he said. “It’s always fun to explain that these materials not only build our local streets and buildings, they go all around the country for use in the roads and bridges that connect America.”

Leadperson Tim Corrick echoed Buschman’s sentiments.

“I grew up here, and I enjoy getting to see the community come together, and the kids’ eyes light up when they see all the big mobile equipment. And maybe when they get older, they will want to enjoy the industry as much as we all do,” Corrick said. “I think it’s important for our neighbors to understand how well we take care of our pit and the surrounding environment.”

The Touch-a-Truck tradition at Walstrum was started by Al Frei (former president of Albert Frei and Sons), who said he is pleased to see Martin Marietta show continued support for the event.

“I started this Touch-a-Truck in 2018 to give back to the community and educate our neighbors on what was happening at the quarry,” he said. “The event has matured nicely and gets better every year.”

Today, the Walstrum team continues to strengthen its partnership with the Clear Creek Rotary Club, often collaborating on additional service projects that support schools and local programs. Gorny said the relationship is especially meaningful given that Clear Creek County—home to just 10,000 residents—receives fewer state and federal resources than its much larger neighbors.

Providing support, he said, is key to preserving the community spirit and traditions that have helped define the quarry for years.

“I enjoy the relationship we have with Clear Creek Rotary,” Gorny said. “Being able to give back, provide support and stay involved in the county where our quarry operates is very important to our team.”

The Walstrum crew is already discussing improvements for the next Touch-a-Truck that will promote more people coming together while showcasing the industry and supporting the next generation of Clear Creek County.