Briggs Construction Equipment held its sixth rodeo in the Case Rodeo series Sept. 21, in Charlotte, N.C.

This was the first rodeo in several years for this location and Briggs said it proved to be a successful event with more than 300 people attending. As the parking lot filled, some vendors said they had never seen an attendance that large at an open house event.

The remote radio broadcast drew a crowd with sports radio station WFNZ’s Mark Packer in the morning. WSOC’s Rob Tanner emceed the event in the afternoon and raffled off door prizes including tool boxes, MP3 players, gift certificates and weekly backhoe rentals to dozens of participants. Hill Billy Barbecue was served under a large tent while spectators cheered on the competitors. Representatives from Briggs’ suppliers such as Case, NPK, Paladin Light Construction Attachments, Esco and Sennebogen were present throughout the day.

A crowd gathered as NPK’s Mike Rzeszotarski demonstrated the new breaker bucket by shattering a large concrete piece and scooping it up with the bucket.

Eighty-seven equipment operators participated in the event. The rodeo involved operating a Case backhoe to victory in an event that pits the area’s most talented heavy equipment operators against each other in a series of three skill-testing events. First and second place winners were both from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Chad Taylor was awarded first place and received a 1/16th scale 50th Anniversary model of the Case Black Backhoe, a champion’s jacket, a $500 Visa gift card and a trip for two to Las Vegas in 2008 to compete in the Case North American Championship Event for a grand prize Case backhoe valued at nearly $120,000.

Second place was awarded to Donald McDevitt. Third place went to Hugh James of the Town of Wadesboro. John Putnam of the City of Kings Mountain took fourth place. Fifth place went to Scott Good of Scott Good Septic Systems. Second through fifth place winners received $300 to $100 gift cards for their efforts.

Briggs partnered with the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity by donating $1,000 and inviting attendees from the construction industry to participate in volunteer efforts for the organization.

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