Case Crowns Rodeo Series Champion at ConExpo in Las Vegas

March 17, 2008
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.

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 in 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, with 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 Tuesday evening’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.”

During an eight-month tour across North America in 2007, the Case Rodeo Series drew nearly 20,000 attendees at more than 75 Case dealerships. At each Rodeo Series event, local construction equipment operators competed in three skill-testing events for a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas.

Each rodeo event also served as a fundraiser for local Habitat for Humanity affiliates, raising nearly $140,000 for the organization.

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