The right stuff: look for more producers' challenge events next year

Concrete Producer, The, June, 2005

Dozens of World of Concrete attendees took the challenge and several went away with bragging rights and prizes in the Second Annual John Deere Load America Challenge outside the Las Vegas Convention Center at World of Concrete in January.

For three days, pre-certified contestants took turns operating a John Deere 544J front end loader (Deere's newest offering) around an obstacle course. Participants received points for various maneuvers, including backing up, parallel parking, and driving up a ramp to drop a ball into a barrel. Time was used to determine the winners if there was a tie.

Contestants had various construction backgrounds. Operating such equipment "is a regular part of what we do," said first place winner Jon Lindberg of Diversified Foundations in Henning, Minn. "I grew up on a farm. I've been around machinery my whole life." Lindberg and other first place winners won leather jackets from John Deere.

If you didn't get a chance to compete, you can start polishing your skills for the Third Annual Producers' Challenge at next year's World of Concrete in Las Vegas, Jan. 17-20. Look for even more events and sponsors, in addition to John Deere, next year!

Visit www.worldofconcrete.com.

Mark Latham, a tool nut who lives in Durango, Colo., picked up the keys to the 2004 Site Commander after being selected as the grand prize winner from more than 52,000 entries. Michael Schoeb, Hilti vice president, presented the $94,000 truck and tools to Latham at World of Concrete. The 2005 Site Commander Sweepstakes and national tour rolled out in April, with three Ford- and Hilti-sponsored trucks touring simultaneously.

Tuesday's winners

First Place: Jon Lindberg, Diversified Foundations

Second Place: Samuel Mahoney, Mahoney and Sons Construction

Third Place: Ben Hensel, James A. Rhodes State College

Wednesday's winners

First Place: Matt Thompson, Benanzer Custom Homes

Second Place: Christopher Udall, Sunbelt of Nevada

Third Place: Newell Richardson, SUNROC Corp.

Thursday's winners

First Place: Steven Sanford, U.S. Air Force

Second Place: Randy Marcl, Marcl's Excavating

Third Place: Aaron Mahoney, Mahoney and Sons Construction