Groff Tractor & Equipment held three Case Triple Threat Rodeo events — one each at its facilities in Ebensburg, Mechanicsburg and Cranberry Township, April 30, May 7 and May 14, respectively.

Across the United States and Canada, Case dealerships are hosting local Triple Threat Rodeos from April to October 2011. One winner from each local rodeo and five wildcard competitors will advance to the North American Championship Event to be held at the World of Concrete Show in Las Vegas in January 2012. There, a champion will be crowned. First prize will be a 2011 Dodge Ram 2500HD pickup truck and a 2011 Case Construction TR270 compact track loader. Second and third place winners will receive a $5,000 and $2,500 CNH Capital Card, respectively.

The winning competitor at each local event will earn a trip for two to the North American Triple Threat Rodeo Championship in Las Vegas, $500 and commemorative Triple Threat Rodeo belt buckle. Local second and third place finishers receive $250 and $100, respectively; a commemorative Triple Threat Rodeo belt buckle and a chance to become one of five Wildcard entries.

For its first, second and third place winners' sponsoring company, Groff Tractor awarded a $5,000, a $2,500 and a $1,000 rental credit, respectively, on new Case rentals.

Case's Triple Threat Rodeo consists of three events, which use the Case N Series loader/backhoe, the F Series wheel loader and the Alpha Series skid steer:

• Backhoe Bronc Buster — the backhoe is used in a series of obstacles, which includes the use of soccer and tennis balls.

• Wheel Loader Roundup — contestants use a wheel loader to pick up various transport bars off their bases and carry/move to other areas across the event space.

• Skid Steer Showdown — a bar is attached to the bucket and the contestant must carry two soccer balls (and one floating soccer ball inside of bucket) while maneuvering around cones and through F-assemblies to the final destination, without dropping the soccer balls.

Groff Tractor's three events were well attended. In Ebensburg, 200 attended while 49 competed; in Mechanicsburg, 300 attended, while 63 competed; and in Cranberry Township, 100 attended, while 26 competed.

The top three finishers at each location were:

Ebensburg

First: Allan Long of Allan Long Excavating, Summerhill, Pa.

Second: Mike Ventre of Mike Ventre Excavating, Altoona, Pa.

Third: Zane Lingenfelter of Zane Lingenfelter Excavating, Everett, Pa.

Mechanicsburg

First: Gary Gingrich of Mainline Excavating, Harrisburg, Pa.

First: Michael Holtzinger of Central Penn Institute, Pleasant Gap, Pa.

Second: Mike Welsh of Stewart & Tate, York, Pa.

Third: John Mills of H & H General Excavating, Spring Grove, Pa.

Cranberry Township

First: Ryan Houston of Fleming Walker, Portersville, Pa.

Second: Steve Anskate of Next Generation Contracting, Monaca, Pa.

Third: Keith Lightner of John McCullough Excavating, Rural Valley, Pa.

Local Habitat for Humanity chapters received a donation from each Case Triple Threat Rodeo event. Chapters from Blair County, Cumberland Valley and Beaver County each received $500, plus additional donations.

For the kids, who weren't quite big enough or old enough to participate, Groff Tractor made sure they had plenty of fun activities, such as bouncy castles and photos on the Groff go-cart.

For more information, visit www.caserodeoseries.com/.

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