Page 10 - JF25 TPW web

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Equipment Rodeo

Once again, It’s all about bragging then enjoyed a tasty BBQ
rights for a year. lunch sponsored by Lee-Smith,
A highly competitive and favorite Inc. NuOrigin provided the
Annual Conference event, the Equipment electronic scoring again this year
Rodeo showcased our state’s operators’ with the results shown on-site
skills on multiple pieces of machinery. on a large-screen TV. Stowers
The average person or bystander CAT provided equipment and
probably doesn’t have a clue about the sponsored the rodeo caps given
skill sets needed to maneuver those to each competitor. Additional
massive machines, yet these Public equipment was provided by
Works professionals make it seem simple. Komatsu.
In fact, since each model and brand With an emphasis on safety,
of heavy machinery can have different not using a seat belt would end
consoles and features, a sticky point is an operator’s event attempt before it even course, or for not returning each cart to
that the controls are varied (and not all started. Then, each operator was tested its target area. If an operator emptied and
in the same place.) on skill and time for each event. returned all three carts perfectly, another
A large number of operators took For example, with the auto refuse competitor could still move ahead with a
part in this year’s competition, with truck event, competitors proceeded to faster time.
more than 100 registered. It was held the first trash cart, set the parking brake, The top three winners in each category,
on a course located at Lee-Smith, Inc., and picked up the cart, demonstrated and the top three overall winners were
designed to carefully maximize space. dumping the empty container before awarded cash prizes. Engraved CASE
Participants competed on the skid steer, returning the cart to the target area. After knives were presented to each of the
backhoe, knuckleboom, Gradall, wheel two more stops, the truck returned to the different event winners and the overall
loader, and auto refuse truck. starting line position. competition winner, plus authentic
During the morning hours, rodeo Points were lost for not emptying cowboy hats. The City of Chattanooga
participants practiced on the machinery, that cart, or for hitting cones along the accepted the team trophy this year.

1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd
In the OVERALL COMPETITION, first place went to Tony Hudgens, Chattanooga; In the SKID STEER COMPETITION, first place went to Jim Merriman, Alcoa;
second place went to Joe Meehan, Chattanooga; and third place to Kevin second place went to Buster Payne, Alcoa; and third place to Wesley
White, Chattanooga. Chambers, 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 Tony Hudgens,
second place went to Allen Wedman, Chattanooga; and third place to Daniel Chattanooga; second place went to Buster Payne, Alcoa; third place to Tim
Graber, Chattanooga. Merriman, Alcoa.
10 TPW January/February 2025