Wood floor pro Jessica Peterson hadn’t traveled outside the U.S. before June 23 this year. But by June 24, Peterson found herself touring the iconic Heidelberg Castle in Germany. “A dream come true,” she says.
Peterson, who works at Midland, Mich.-based Custom Hardwood Floors by Jeffries, was a recipient of the inaugural WFB Ultimate Wood Floor Guy/Gal prize, a contest designed to highlight exemplary wood flooring professionals, awarded in 2021. Part of the prize included a free trip to contest-sponsor Lägler's headquarters in Germany for the company’s revered Fly + Sand training—a perk also offered in the 2022 “Ultimate” contest, which is open for entries until Oct. 1.
Due to the pandemic, it was the first Fly + Sand held in two years. The trip was packed with historic countryside tours and activities from the moment the plane touched down in Frankfurt, Peterson says. “The buildings and houses were amazing,” she says. “Almost like stepping into a movie.”
Getting a firsthand look at Lägler’s manufacturing facilities and techniques was an eye-opening experience. “Everything was so clean and precise in every way,” Peterson says. “When you think of hardwood flooring and the machines and factory setting, this is the surgical department of professionalism with all the experts running it.”
Another highlight from the trip was the connections Peterson made with other wood floor pros in attendance.
“The group we had was amazing,” she says. “These guys are like my brothers; some I had known beforehand, and then meeting all the others was probably my favorite part.”
The trip concluded June 29, and Peterson says she gained newfound appreciation for the industry and its history. “The inside look at where things started for Lägler was phenomenal,” she says. “You can't walk out of there without having the most respect for where this company has started and where it will continue to go.”
Despite missing a plane connection on the return trip, Peterson made it back to the U.S. and says it was an experience she’ll never forget: “Who would ever think hardwood floors would take you to places like this?”
