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CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS By Klair Kimmey
Equipment Rodeo
The Equipment Rodeo, a signature drivers traveled on a short emptied and returned all three carts
event for the Annual Conference, is an oval course with two narrow perfectly, another competitor could still
opportunity for skilled employees to ramps while being timed. The move ahead with a faster time. Awards
showcase their finesse with the machinery. winner was Cody Jones with were given to the top three winners in
It’s deceptive to watch how the Tennessee Metro Nashville. The Cornhole each category and to the top three overall
Public Works professionals make running tournament champions were winners; the city with the most winners
those giant machines look so easy. The Steve Frost and William also received special recognition.
average person doesn’t realize how Taylor, both with Metro
powerful those machines are. It’s not Nashville.
like driving a car, where the controls are
pretty much all in the same place. Each Rodeo participants were able
brand and model of heavy machinery is to practice on the machinery
different. Not every city owns enough in the morning, before
equipment for their daily tasks to have the mid-day competition.
participants in each event category. Operators were tested on skill,
Owning enough equipment to host the as well as time. For example,
statewide competition has always been with the Auto Refuse Truck
a challenge for cities hosting the Annual event, competitors proceeded
Conference. to the first trash cart, set the
parking brake and picked up
The Equipment Rodeo featured the cart, completely dumping it before
competitions with the skid steer, backhoe, returning the cart to the target area. After
knuckleboom, Gradall, wheel loader and two more stops, the truck returned to the
auto refuse truck. Just for fun, Nashville starting line position. Points were lost
featured two additional activities this for not fully emptying the cart, hitting
year: the Bird scooter course and the cones along the course, and not returning
Cornhole competition. The Bird scooter each cart to the target area. If an operator
1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd
In the OVERALL COMPETITION, first place went to Cody Baker, Metro Nashville; In the SKID STEER COMPETITION, first place went to Jim Merriman, Alcoa;
second place went to Matt Moore, Clarksville; and third place to Mike Ribaudo, second place went to Tim Merriman, Alcoa; and third place to Matt Moore,
Metro Nashville. Clarksville.
1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd
In the BACKHOE COMPETITION first place went to Matt Moore, Clarksville; second In the WHEELLOADER COMPETITION, first place went to Mike Ribaudo, Metro
place went to Kevin White, Chattanooga; and third place to Robert Morgan, Nashville; second place went to Eric Greene, Metro Nashville; third place to
Germantown. William Taylor, Metro Nashville.
10 TPW January/February 2019