Page 10 - Jan-Feb 2020

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS By Lisa Hood Skinner
Equipment Rodeo

A much-anticipated event at the Annual and auto refuse truck on a well- were lost for not emptying the cart, hitting
Conference, the Equipment Rodeo once designed course maximizing all of cones along the course, and not returning
again provided an opportunity for skilled the available space. Approximately each cart to its target area. If an operator
operators statewide to showcase their 120 operators took part in the emptied and returned all three carts
finesse with multiple pieces of machinery. rodeo this year – the largest field perfectly, another competitor could still
The average person or bystander doesn’t ever. We also had the largest move ahead with a faster time.
realize the skill sets needed to maneuver number of female operators
those powerful machines, partly because participating this year. Awards including small cash prizes,
these Public Works professionals make it cowboy-style hard hats and custom
look so easy. Gathering at the First Tennessee belt buckles were given to the top three
Pavilion, Rodeo participants winners in each category and to the
It definitely is not like driving a car, practiced on the machinery in top three overall winners. The city with
where the controls are pretty much all in the morning before a barbeque the most winners also received special
the same place. Each brand and model of lunch sponsored by CMI Equipment. recognition. Chattanooga proudly
heavy machinery has different features. Entertainment during lunch was provided accepted the team trophy this year.
Not every city owns enough equipment by a talented choral group from The
for their daily tasks to have participants Orange Grove Center.
in each event category. Providing
enough equipment to host the statewide During the mid-day competition
competition has always been a challenge operators were tested on skill, as well as
for cities hosting the Annual Conference, time. For example, with the auto refuse
but Chattanooga was up to the task with truck event, competitors proceeded to
some equipment provided by Stowers the first trash cart, set the parking brake
Machinery. and picked up the cart, demonstrated
dumping the empty container before
The Equipment Rodeo featured returning the cart to the target area. After
competitions with the skid steer, backhoe, two more stops, the truck returned to the
knuckleboom, Gradall, wheel loader starting line position. Of course, points

1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd

In the OVERALL COMPETITION, first place went to Kevin White, Chattanooga; In the SKID STEER COMPETITION, first place went to Tony Hudgens,
second place went to Tony Hudgens, Chattanooga; and third place to Chris Chattanooga; second place went to Jeff Long, Alcoa; and third place to Allen
Morris, Metro Nashville. Wedman, Chattanooga.

1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd

In the BACKHOE COMPETITION first place went to Kevin White, Chattanooga; In the WHEEL LOADER COMPETITION, first place went to Gary Wair, Metro
second place went to Richard Skelton, Germantown; and third place to Jacob Nashville; second place went to Kevin White, Chattanooga; third place to Daniel
Kagley, Maryville. Graber, Chattanooga.

10 TPW January/February 2020