Franklin Equipment Kicks Off Skid Steer Rodeo Series

Wed June 12, 2019
CEG

Contestants were required to complete a series of skill challenges in the timed rodeo competition.

Franklin Equipment kicked of its summer series of skid steer rodeo events May 30 with an open house at the company's Columbus superstore in Groveport, Ohio.

The event marked the first in a series of seven events to be held in Indianapolis, Wisconsin, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, which will culminate with a skid steer rodeo finals event held at the GIE+Expo in Louisville, Ky., on Oct. 17.

The open house/rodeo welcomed competitors and attendees with door prizes, equipment demonstrations and food and entertainment. The rodeo was broadcast live on two area radio stations (92.3 WCOL and 99.7 WRKZ) while professional rodeo announcer, Joe Coalter called the event.

With a choice of either hand- or foot-controlled Wacker Neuson ST31 compact track loaders, rodeo competitors were timed as they completed a course layout that included a series of skill challenges. The top two competitors at each of the seven events will move on to compete in the rodeo finals.

Jeff Foster and DJ Steele finished first and second, respectively.

Finalists will be provided air fare, hotel accommodations and registration for the GIE+Expo and also will receive a skid steer rodeo finals belt buckle, pullover jacket and welcome package on arrival. The grand prize includes one-year free rental of a Wacker Neuson ST31 compact track loader, a $5,000 cash prize and a "First Place" belt buckle. The second-place winner will receive $3,000 and a "second-place" belt buckle and the third-place winner will receive $1,000 and a "third-place" belt buckle.

In addition to a full contingent of Franklin Equipment representatives greeting attendees at the event, factory representatives from several of the dealership's equipment lines also were on hand to help out and discuss their equipment.

Franklin Equipment's next two skid steer rodeo events will be held on June 20t at the dealership's Indianapolis Store located at 1921 S. Kentucky Ave. and will be followed by a skid steer rodeo event in Wisconsin.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin Equipment was founded in 2008 by management team Gary Gabriel, Troy Gabriel, Tom Richardson and Tony Repeta, when they purchased the assets of Franklin Tractor, a single location dealership located in Columbus. Since then, the company has grown to 19 stores in seven states. Along with the company's six stores in Ohio, Franklin Equipment also has full-service branch locations in Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin. The company is an authorized dealer for Wacker Neuson, Toro, Skyjack lifts and telehandlers and Chicago Pneumatic air tools and compressors. The company provides sales and service for the lines it represents, and rental equipment includes backhoes, skid steers, track loaders, compact excavators, scissor lifts, telehandlers, light equipment, wheel loaders and a wide range of attachments, handheld equipment and safety gear.

For more information about Franklin Equipment and to see the full rodeo schedule, visit www.franklinequipment.com/events.

CEG

This story also appears on Construction Equipment Guide.

With a Skyjack SJ643TH telehandler, Vito Falconer, regional product support representative of Skyjack Inc, was on-hand to discuss his company’s lineup of lifting equipment.

Attendees of Franklin Equipment’s skid steer rodeo enjoyed lunch and refreshments provided during the event.

(L-R): WCOL 92.3 Radio’s Dan Zuko catches up with Franklin Equipment COO Tony Repeta and iHeart Media’s Jim Miller at the skid steer rodeo.

Professional rodeo announcer Joe Coalter provided play-by-play commentary throughout the competition.

Franklin Equipment Company’s John Catrino came in from the dealership’s Nashville, Tenn., store for the event.

Wacker Neuson’s Don Knutson (L) and Tim Triscari were at the event to introduce the new ST50 CTL, which is the company’s only production built pre-series machine. The machine is scheduled to be available in the fourth quarter in 2019.

(L-R): All Ohio Masonry’s Scott Thompson, along with son, Isaac, and his friend, Hunter Dickson, took a look at the Toro Dingo equipment display, including the TXL2000 compact utility loader at the event.

(L-R): Buck Tucker, store manager, announces the winners: DJ Steele (second place) and Jeff Foster (first place).

Contestants were required to complete a series of skill challenges in the timed rodeo competition.