Why a Rodeo?

Your employees work hard year round doing snow removal, patching streets, excavating and repairing fleets. Why not let them demonstrate their skills and knowledge, learn new techniques and have some fun at the same time?

It's time to register for the Heart of America Snow and Equipment Training Expo in Gardner, KS at the New Century AirCenter, sponsored by the Kansas City Chapter of the American Public Works Association and the Mo-Kan Street Systems Committee. The rodeo provides a training ground to learn and demonstrate the skills necessary for your employees to do their jobs. As a manager, you can help decrease rising accident statistics and prepare employees for the winter season by entering them in the rodeo. The five-day competition will include backhoe, wheel loader, motor grader, skid steer, street sweeper, excavator, and snow plow events along with the mechanic's rodeo and team competition.

The registration fee is $85.00 per participant for each event entered. This includes lunch and refreshments the day of the event. Extra meal tickets for nonparticipants are available for $8.00 each Monday thru Thursday and $10.00 on Friday.

There will be a $50.00 practice fee per day for registrants who wish to familiarize themselves with pavement and marked areas, however there will be no equipment or props available. To guarantee sufficient practice time, make your requests by calling Judy Paulsen at (913) 715-0603. Practice times will be scheduled between August 1 and September 26, subject to availability.

Take time during the week to visit the Vendors and Equipment Show. This is your opportunity to see and operate the latest technology available for you and your staff to do day-to-day tasks more efficiently.

Team Competition Working Together

This is an opportunity for your employees to combine their scores and compete as a team. Top finishers in each event are recognized. There is no charge to compete as a team, but you must register prior to the start of the rodeo. To compete as a team, at least some member from your agency must be registered in six of the eight events. You may elect to have the same person or various people compete in all categories; the choice is yours. Scores are determined by using the best individual score per event. The Frank York team trophy is awarded to the winning agency.

Awards Luncheon

On Friday, October 10, 2008 the final 12 in the snow plow competition will compete at 10:00 AM. The final competition will be followed by an awards luncheon. The top 12 in each event will return on Friday to be recognized for their accomplishments.

Winners Trip

The winner's trip will be to a vendor location in Spring of 2009 (location to be announced shortly).