Groff Tractor & Equipment hosted a Case Rodeo Series event at its Mechanicsburg, Pa., facility on April 14.

Nationwide in 2007, Case dealers will be holding approximately 50 backhoe rodeo events to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the first factory-integrated tractor loader backhoe — the Case Model 320.

All first place finishers of the Case Rodeo Series events will receive a $500 VISA card, a collectible 1/16 scale model of the Case 50th Anniversary Edition backhoe and a special edition Rodeo Series jacket. In addition, all first place contestants will receive a trip for two with accommodations to the March 2008 Con Expo-Con/AGG show in Las Vegas, where they will compete in the Case North American Championship Event. The grand champion will win a fully loaded 50th Anniversary Edition Case 580 Super M Series 2 backhoe valued at $119,203.

During the events, each participating Case dealer also will donate $1,000 to a local Habitat for Humanity chapter while helping to raise awareness of the organization as well as recruit volunteers. Groff Tractor donated its share to the Cumberland Valley Habitat for Humanity.

Approximately 73 local contractors competed in three skilled events, which will be featured at all Case Series Rodeo events: the Balance Beam, Drop in the Bucket and Setting the Charge.

The Balance Beam event features a beam with a PVC pipe attached to each end. The beam is initially set on a T-stand with softballs set on each pipe. Contestants then must pick up the beam using two chains and relocate it to another T-stand without losing the softballs atop the PVC pipes.

The Drop in the Bucket event features three balls — basketball, soccer and softball — that contestants must scoop off of a pylon and subsequently drop into a container.

For the Setting the Charge event, contestants must pick up two puzzle pieces hanging (and often swinging) from chains — a triangle and square — and carefully set each into its corresponding mat on the ground.

The top five finishers, their points and prize money during Groff Tractor's April 14 event were:

1st: Jeff Ebersole, owner of JVE Enterprises, Lewisberry, Pa., 164 points, $500

2nd: Ron Miller, Remcon Inc., Dillsburg, Pa., 227 points, $300 (also will serve as alternate to the championship if Ebersole cannot attend)

3rd: Gary Gingrich, Nay's Excavation LLC, Millerstown, Pa., 254 points, $250

4th: Kim Lenker, Lenker Excavating, Enola, Pa., 257 points, $200

5th: Paul Peters, Glenn O. Hawbaker, State College, Pa., 263 points, $100

During the event, contestants, guests and their families also were treated to equipment demonstrations, food and drink and play areas for children.

Groff Tractor & Equipment will host three additional Case Rodeo Series events at which each first place contestant will earn a place in the national championship. The events will be held:

• April 28 in Bellefonte, Pa., at the Central Penn Institute of Science and Technology;

• May 5 at Groff's branch in Ephrata, Pa.; and

• Oct. 20 at a location to be determined in Pittsburgh.

For more information, call 717/766-7671.

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