On July 14, LB Smith sponsored the 2004 Backhoe Rodeo finals, which are put on by the South Carolina chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA). The event was held at Legends Resorts in Myrtle Beach, SC.

“We felt this was a good way to give back to our governmental customers as well show off our product line,” said Bob Knapp of LB Smith. The rodeo was followed by a dinner at the resort.

To determine who would have the opportunity to represent their region in Myrtle Beach, the association held seven local trials statewide. The competition was open to all public works employees in South Carolina.

The final contestants’ skills were put to the test with three events staged to test each man’s backhoe dexterity: the pipe drop and the obstacle course, two traditional rodeo events, and the appropriately named “Nerve Cracker,” which arguably was the most difficult event for many of the contestants.

The main objective of the Nerve Cracker is to set three balls, which are dangling by a string, on top of four different sized cones. Because the length of the string is just long enough to allow the ball to be placed on top of a cone, the event can be quite difficult, explained Knapp.

Holding onto his title, John Hudson, of Lancaster County Water & Sewer District, took home first place for the fifth time in six years.

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