SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities	$ 39,578	$ 37,800
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities	0	0
Carrying Value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities	39,578	37,800
Delta E M D Pty Ltd
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of remaining ownership	1,976	2,016
Valmont Deferred Compensation Plan
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets recorded for the investments held	$ 37,602	$ 35,784