At the Case North American Rodeo Series Championship event on March 11, Nick Market of Windsor, Ontario, beat four other finalists to win the title of Case Rodeo Series North American Champion. Along with the title, Market was awarded the grand prize — a 50th anniversary limited-edition Case 580 Super M Series 2 loader backhoe, valued at nearly $120,000.

From a field of 4,200 loader backhoe operators from across the United States and Canada, Market joined top five finalists Jeff Coble, Dennis Drake, Corey Jessen and Tim Reynolds for the championship competition.

“Nick is a superb loader backhoe operator — the best of the best in North America,” said Jim Hughes, brand marketing manager, Case Construction Equipment, and manager of the Case Rodeo Series. “Even under the pressure of some stiff competition and hundreds of spectators watching him, Nick never wavered. That’s the sign of a true champion.”

An equipment operator with Sherqy Contracting in Windsor, Market led the pack of finalists with a score of 340.37. Market has been operating loader backhoes for nearly 30 years and won the Case rodeo event held at Kucera Farm Supply in Alinston, Ontario, in June 2007.

Jessen took second place, earning a $5,000 Case gift card. A construction foreman with UBTA-UBBT Communications, Roosevelt, Utah, Jessen won the Case rodeo event held at Century Equipment in Salt Lake City in August 2007.

Reynolds took third place, earning a $2,500 Case gift card. With 29 years of experience operating loader backhoes, Reynolds, of Minot Reynolds Excavation of Orleans, Mass., won the Case rodeo event held at Sunbelt Rentals in Shrewsbury, Mass., in October 2007.

Coble took fourth place, earning a $1,500 Case gift card. The owner of JK Coble Excavating, Ottawa, Kan., Coble has 30 years of loader backhoe experience. He won the Case rodeo event at Coleman Equipment in Bonner Springs, Kan., in July 2007.

Drake of Drake Homes, in Champaign, Ill., took fifth place, earning a $1,000 Case gift card. The winner of the Case rodeo event held at Birkey’s Construction in Urbana, Ill., in July 2007, Drake headed into March 11’s championship event with the best score of the top five finalists.

“The skills demonstrated by the 77 loader backhoe operators were impressive,” said Hughes, “We crowned Nick Market as the Case Rodeo Series North American Champion, but we also honor all 77 local rodeo winners for their expertise.”

The rodeo completes Case’s yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first factory-integrated tractor loader backhoe manufactured by Case.

During the series of competitions, more than $140,000 was donated to 75 Habitat for Humanity affiliates across North America. Many Case dealerships helped provide materials and volunteers to build Habitat homes in their communities.

At the Case corporate office in Racine, Wis., employees raised $26,000 and helped build a home.

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