Want to learn to build a stone fence? There’s a marathon in Lexington this weekend.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Have you ever wanted to learn how to build a stone fence?

Well, this weekend, you can learn at McConnell Springs Park in Lexington.

The Dry Stone Conservancy is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a 25-hour building marathon.

Master craftsman Neil Rippingale has been with the organization for nearly 15 years. He said after decades of building stone fences, it’s just second nature.

“It might sound silly, but the stone actually speaks to me,” Rippingale said. “It speaks to me with its color, its shape, its size, its patina. So all these stone here looks like organized chaos, but for me, all these stones have a place in the wall here.”

That’s why he’s excited to teach the craft to others this weekend, and so is Executive Director Jane Wooley.

“I’m excited. It is a very rewarding skill to undertake, or to learn,” Wooley said. “It’s very artistic.”]

The conservancy was created in 1996 to fill the need for skilled masons to rebuild deteriorating fences in Central Kentucky.

The organization has trained thousands of masons and the public.

“Teaching the skills is important to maintaining the fences, and the fences talk about our heritage here in Central Kentucky,” Wooley said.

Rippingale said, like most things, it all starts with a strong foundation.

“The protruding foundation actually gives it a platform for the wall to sit on,” Rippingale said.

He said the stones should gradually get smaller as you work your way up, laying them flat.

As you near the top, a row of stones called the ‘cap course’ keeps water out of the fence.

Also, there’s no molding paste holding the stones together.

“The concept is friction and gravity,” Rippingale said.

He even let me ABC 36’s Bobbi McSwine try, and to her surprise, he said she did a good job.

The marathon kicks-off at noon Saturday and ends at 1 p-m Sunday.

It’s free and open to everyone.