June 1, 2010

TIMBER & BIOMASS EXPO SOUTHEAST - NAYLOR, GA, JUNE 11-12, 2010

Shaun O’Dell, Winfield, Ala., won the Prentice Loader Championship at the Timber & Biomass Expo Southeast, June 11-12 near Valdosta, Ga. O’Dell’s winning time was 2 minutes, 34 seconds.

O’Dell made the six hour drive from Winfield and endured temperatures close to 100° to win the first championship he’s ever entered, a rare feat not often accomplished. Over 80 contestants participated, and while most were from Georgia and Florida, the contest did draw from as far north as Pennsylvania and as far west as Mississippi.

The competition raised $1,326 for Log A Load For Kids through voluntary contestant contributions, Caterpillar Forest Product’s match and a match from the show’s host, the Langdale Co. of Valdosta. Log A Load is an organization sponsored by loggers and other forest products people to raise funds for hospitals associated with the Children’s Miracle Network.

Yancey Brothers, the Cat dealer for Georgia, provided the Prentice 2384 B-Series knuckleboom loader for the contest. Designed and manufactured by Caterpillar Forest Products, the B-Series features multiple run modes to allow the operator to choose the optimum power/fuel setting for the application.

First introduced at Expo Richmond in 1972, the Prentice Loader Championship is a contest in which operators demonstrate their skill with the loader by picking up and moving blocks between two checkerboards.

Shaun O’Dell, Winfield, Ala., won the Prentice Loader Championship at the Timber & Biomass Expo Southeast, June 11-12 near Valdosta, Ga.

June 1, 2010

EAST COAST SAWMILL & LOGGING EQUIPMENT EXPO - RICHMOND, VA., MAY 21-22, 2010

Third time’s a charm for B.J. (Billy) Coleman who took the top prize in the Prentice Loader Championship at the 32nd East Coast Sawmill and Logging Equipment Exposition, May 21-22 in Richmond, Va. The contest was a close race with less than a second between the first and second place winners. This was the third loader contest Coleman has entered. He finished sixth at Expo Richmond 2008.

The competition raised $942 for Log A Load For Kids through voluntary contestant contributions and the company’s match. Log A Load is an organization sponsored by loggers and other forest products people to raise funds for hospitals associated with the Children’s Miracle Network.

Coleman’s Trophy Run time was 2 minutes, 27.10 seconds. Ben Hardwick, Francestown, N.H., took second place with a time of 2 minutes, 27.93 seconds. Two weeks prior, Hardwick won first place at the Prentice loader contest at the Northeast Forest Products Equipment Expo in Vermont. Brian Osborn, Waldorf, Md., finished third with a final time of 2 minutes, 29.40 seconds. First, second and third place winners received cash prizes, trophies and Prentice Loader Championship jackets. The fourth and fifth place winners also received jackets.

Carter Machinery Company, Inc., headquartered in Salem, Va., provided the Prentice 2384 B-Series knuckleboom loader for the contest. Designed and manufactured by Caterpillar Forest Products, the B-Series features multiple run modes to allow the operator to choose the optimum power/fuel setting for the application.

Coleman works for his father’s company, Coleman Logging, Inc., in Concord, Va. He runs a crew and operates a Cat 559B knuckleboom loader. “The Cat 559 is a smooth loader. The hydraulics are really good,” he says. “You’ve got a lot of room inside the cab and the AC works good. It doesn’t beat you up - at the end of the day you don’t feel wore out.” The 559 is an equivalent machine to the Prentice 2384, but with a Caterpillar engine.

He says he has gotten smoother and that helped him capture first place, but he also attributes his win to a lot of luck. “A lot of these guys can run loaders good, too. I just happened to be the one today to beat them,” he says with a grin.

First introduced at Expo Richmond in 1972, the Prentice Loader Championship is a contest in which operators demonstrate their skill with the loader by picking up and moving blocks between two checkerboards.

	Name	City	Contest Time	Final Trophy Run Time
1	Billy (B.J.) Coleman	Gladys, VA	2:36.96	2:27.10
2	Ben Hardwick	Francestown, NH	2:20.75	2:27.93
3	Brian Osborn	Waldorf, MD	2:36.00	2:29.40
4	Paul Weaver	Amelia, VA	2:41.12	2:49:15
5	Kelly Smith	Inwood, WV	2:51.78	2:58.73

The top finishers in the Prentice Loader Championship at Expo Richmond 2010, May 21-22 in Richmond, Va., are (first to third place from left to right): B.J. Coleman, Gladys, Va.; Ben Hardwick, Francestown, N.H.; and Brian Osborn, Waldorf, Md. The winners are flanked by Rich Planisek and Chip Burroughs with Caterpillar Forest Products.

June 1, 2010

NORTHEASTERN FOREST PRODUCTS EQUIPMENT EXPO - ESSEX JUNCTION, VT., MAY 7-8, 2010

Ben Hardwick, Francestown, N.H., a familiar face at Prentice Loader Championships on the East coast, won first place in the contest at the Northeast Forest Products Equipment Expo, May 7-8 in Essex Junction, Vt. He followed that two weeks later with a second place win at Expo Richmond 2010.

The competition raised $786 for Log A Load For Kids through voluntary contestant contributions and the company’s match. Log A Load is an organization sponsored by loggers and other forest products people to raise funds for hospitals associated with the Children’s Miracle Network.

Hardwick’s Trophy Run time was 2 minutes, 31.9 seconds. Eric Marceau, Lancaster, N.H., took second place with a time of 2 minutes, 33.47 seconds. Heath Taylor, Cornish, Maine, finished third with a final time of 2 minutes, 39.32 seconds. First, second and third place winners received cash prizes, trophies and Prentice Loader Championship jackets. The fourth and fifth place winners also received jackets.

The Oliver Stores, headquartered in New Gloucester, Maine, provided the Prentice 2384 knuckleboom loader for the contest. Hardwick runs a Prentice 384 loader for his family’s business, D.H. Hardwick & Sons, Inc. He describes the Prentice loader as “fast, smooth and comfortable.”

Hardwick has been entering Prentice loader contests at both the Northeast Expo and Expo Richmond for the last two years, always finishing in the top 10. In 2008 he won first place at the Northeast Expo, but dropped to third place last year. “Every year I try to beat my time from last year, but sometimes it doesn’t work out so good,” he explains. “Last year I tried to go too quick and I had a couple penalties. This year I took my time and did not get any penalties.” He says he will definitely be back next year to compete again.

First introduced at Expo Richmond in 1972, the Prentice Loader Championship is a contest in which operators demonstrate their skill with the loader by picking up and moving blocks between two checkerboards.

	Name	City	Contest Time	Final Trophy Run Time
1	Ben Hardwick	Francestown, NH	2:33.34	2:31.90
2	Eric Marceau	Lancaster, NH	2:35.00	2:33.47
3	Heath Taylor	Cornish, ME	2:42.47	2:39.32
4	Derrick Berry	Lyndonville, VT	2:35.82	Did Not Run
5	Gerard Reindeau	Medford, WI	2:40.04	Did Not Run

The top finishers in the Prentice Loader Championship at the Northeast Forest Products Equipment Expo, May 7-8 in Essex Junction, Vt., are (third to first place from left to right): Ben Hardwick, Francestown, N.H.; Eric Marceau, Lancaster, N.H.; and Heath Taylor, Cornish, Maine. The winners are flanked by Joe Allen, Caterpillar Forest Products, and Scott Morrison with for The Oliver Stores, the local Prentice dealer.

September 14, 2009

LAKE STATES LOGGING CONGRESS - ESCANABA, MICH., SEPT. 10-12, 2009

Chad Miskovich, Wakefield, Mich., has reached his goal of 10th win in a row at the Prentice Loader Championship. The contest, held September 10-12, 2009 at the Lake States Logging Congress in Escanaba, Michigan, had approximately 90 contestants over three days.

Operating a new Prentice 2384 B-Series, Miskovich’s time in the Trophy Run was 2 minutes, 23.75 seconds, giving him his third best time from the past 12 years of placing in the top 10. His best time, 2 minutes 9.57 seconds, was achieved during the Trophy Run at the 2007 Lake States Logging Congress.

Miskovich donated his $200 contest winnings to Log a Load for Kids, bringing the total raised to $1,180, which includes voluntary registration fees and the company’s matching contribution. Through Log a Load, the forestry industry contributes money to children’s hospitals across the United States to treat critically ill and injured children.

First, second and third place winners received trophies and Prentice jackets. In addition, the top 5 all received cash prizes.

Since 1972, there have been close to 100 championships with well over 15,000 contestants. The Prentice Loader Championship has generated well over $150,000 for Log a Load for Kids.

	Name	City	Contest Time	Final Trophy Run Time
1	Chad Miskovich	Wakefield, MI	2:28.72	2:23.75
2	Brian McCumber	Tomahawk, WI	2:55.96	2:39.12
3	Brian Hartwig	Medford, WI	2:39.18	2:49.47
4	Jeff Hartwig	Medford, WI	2:57.59	2:54.16
5	Matt Hartwig	Medford, WI	2:47.59	3:29.03

2009 Prentice Loader Championship winners at the Lake States show. (l to r) Allan Sawdo, Cat Forest Products Territory Sales Manager; Chad Miskovich, Brian McCumber and his son, Brian Hartwig, Jeff Hartwig and Matt Hartwig.

June 11, 2009

NORTHEASTERN FOREST PRODUCTS EQUIPMENT EXPO - BANGOR, ME., MAY 1-2, 2009

The economy may be down, but the excitement is always up at the Prentice Loader Championship. The 2009 contest at the Northeastern Forest Product Expo in Bangor, Maine May 1-2 drew 85 contestants, all eager to display their skills at this game of speed and precision. The Oliver Stores in Bangor, the local Prentice dealer, provided the Prentice 2384 knuckleboom loader for the contest, and also provided manpower and support for this annual fundraising event. The Oliver Stores president, K. Scott Morrison, comments, “We’re always proud to help with the effort to raise money for such a worthy cause as Log-A-Load.”

Heath Taylor of Cornish, Maine was the contest winner with a time of 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Heath took home the cash prize of $200, the winner’s trophy and the coveted Prentice Loader Championship Jacket. Heath came in third at the 2007 Loader Championship in Bangor.

All Trophy Run winners were veterans to the contest, including Stan Robinson and Nelson Boire, who were participants in the 2006 Grand National Championship in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Third place winner, Ben Hardwick, won the Prentice Loader Championship in Vermont in 2008 and placed 7th in Richmond. Derrick Berry is a consistent Trophy Run winner, also placing fifth last year in Vermont.

	Name	Time
1	Heath Taylor	2:30.82
2	Nelson Boire	2:33.38
3	Ben Hardwick	2:35.84
4	Stan Robinson	2:36.97
5	Derrick Berry	2:40.10

2009 Prentice Loader Championship winners at the Bangor show. (l to r) Alan MacLean, Branch Manager, The Oliver Stores; Allan Sawdo, Cat Forest Products Territory Sales Manager; K. Scott Morrison, president, The Oliver Stores; Heath Taylor, first place winner; Nelson Boire, second place winner; Ben Hardwick, third place winner; Stan Robinson, fourth place winner and Derrick Berry, fifth place winner.

October 15, 2008

PRENTICE PROGRESS DAYS - PRENTICE, WIS., AUG. 30, 2008

Brian Hartwig, Medford, Wis., took first place in the Prentice Loader Championship held August 30 in Prentice, Wis., where the hydraulic loader was invented. This year the Lake States contest was staged in conjunction with Prentice Progress Days rather than the Lake States Logging Congress as in previous years.

The contest machine was the Prentice 2384 knuckleboom loader, manufactured in the Prentice plant. The competition was also a fundraiser for Log A Load For Kids, with voluntary contestant donations and the company match going to the charity. Log A Load is an organization sponsored by loggers and other forest products people to raise funds for hospitals associated with the Children’s Miracle Network.

In capturing first place, Hartwig broke the winning streak of Chad Miskovich, Wakefield, Mich., who had won the Lake States contest for the last eight years. Hartwig’s Trophy Run time was 2 minutes, 41 seconds, while Miskovich’s time was 2 minutes, 50 seconds. Third place went to Brian Bartelt, Rib Lake, Wis., with a run time of 3 minutes, 5 seconds.

First, second and third place winners received trophies, Prentice jackets and cash prizes of $300 for first place, $250 for second and $175 for third. The fourth place winner took home $125 and $100 went to fifth place.

For more information visit www.prenticeforestry.com.

	Name	City	Trophy Run Final Time
1	Brian Hartwig	Medford, WI	02:41
2	Chad Miskovich	Wakefield, MI	02:50
3	Brian Bartelt	Rib Lake, WI	03:05
4	Jeff Hartwig	Medford, WI	03:10
5	Eric Shamion	Iron River, MI	03:34

The winners of the Prentice Loader Championship at Prentice Progress Days in Prentice, Wis., are (third to first place from left to right): Brian Bartelt, Rib Lake, Wis.; Chad Miskovich, Wakefield, Mich.; and Brian Hartwig, Medford, Wis.

June 30, 2008

MID-SOUTH FORESTRY EQUIPMENT SHOW - STARKVILLE, MISS. JUNE 6-7, 2008

Jonathan Cutshall, Iuka, Miss., captured first place in the Prentice Loader Championship at the Mid-South Forestry Equipment Show, June 6-7 in Starkville, Miss.

Three Prentice dealers in the area collaborated to make the show a success. B&G Equipment, headquartered in Philadelphia, Miss., provided a Prentice 2384 loader used for the contest. Puckett Machinery, headquartered in Jackson, Miss., supplied a Prentice 2670 wheel feller buncher, and Power Equipment Company, Saltillo, Miss., brought the Prentice 2280 knuckleboom loader for the Prentice display.

The loader competition, which attracted 73 contestants, was also a fundraiser for Log A Load For Kids. Contest participants contributed $235, and this amount was matched by Prentice for a total donation of $470 to the charity. Bradley Smith, who placed fourth, donated his $125 prize money. Log A Load is an organization sponsored by loggers and other forest products people to raise funds for hospitals associated with the Children’s Miracle Network.

Cutshall’s Trophy Run time was 2 minutes, 35.5 seconds. Jonathan Creasy, Iron City, Miss, took second place with a time of 2 minutes, 43.9 seconds. Third place went to Lyle Smith, Roxie, Miss., with a time of 2 minutes, 46.5 seconds. Brent Hill, Lillington, N.C., who recently took first place in the Prentice loader contest at Expo Richmond also competed and finished in seventh place.

First, second and third place winners received trophies and Prentice jackets. In addition, the top 10 all received cash prizes: $300 first place, $250 second place, $175 third place, $125 fourth place, $100 fifth place and $50 for sixth through tenth place.

The Prentice Loader Championship has been a popular attraction at many logging shows since it was introduced in 1972. Operators demonstrate their skill with the loader by picking up and moving blocks between two checkerboards.

	Name	City	Contest Time	Trophy Run Final Time
1	Jonathan Cutshall	Iuka, MS	02:46.8	02:35.5
2	Jonathan Creasy	Iron City, MS	02:48.6	02:43.9
3	Lyle Smith	Roxie, MS	02:37.1	02:46.5
4	Bradley Smith	Brookhaven, MS	02:42.2	03:02.3
5	Eddie Johnson	Crystal Springs, MS	02:47.5	Did not run
6	Derrick Heath Brewer	State Line, MS	02:49.6
7	Brent Hill	Lillington, NC	02:49.9
8	Randall Sibley, Sr.	Walker, LA	02:51.9
9	Chris Davis	Franklin, AL	02:52.9
10	Tim Alexander	Wiggins, MS	02:55.7

Prentice representative Tyler Hill presented trophies to the winners of the Prentice Loader Championship at the Mid-South Forestry Equipment Show, June 6-7 in Starkville, Miss., (first to third place from left): Jonathan Cutshall, Iuka, Miss.; Jonathan Creasy, Iron City, Miss.; and Lyle Smith, Roxie, Miss.

June 6, 2008

EAST COAST SAWMILL & LOGGING EQUIPMENT EXPO - RICHMOND, VA., MAY 16-17, 2008

Two long-time Prentice Loader Championship rivals were at it again at Expo Richmond 2008, May 16-17 in Richmond, Va. Harry Pickett, Hilliard, Fla., and Brent Hill, Lillington, N.C., have gone head-to-head in many Prentice loader contests over the years and both competed in the 2006 Grand National Championship. This time Pickett was in first place after the initial run, but Hill snatched the grand prize away from him in the Trophy Run.

Carter Machinery, headquartered in Salem, Va., provided the Prentice 2384 for the contest, which drew 110 players. The event is also a fundraiser for Log A Load For Kids. The charity will receive $1,052 collected through voluntary contributions and the company’s match. Log A Load is an organization sponsored by loggers and other forest products people to raise funds for hospitals associated with the Children’s Miracle Network.

Hill’s winning Trophy Run time was 2 minutes, 36.39 seconds. Binky Tapscott, Scottsville, Va., took second place with a time of 2 minutes, 37.37 seconds. Pickett dropped to third place in the Trophy Run with a time of 2 minutes, 46.50. First, second and third place winners received trophies and Prentice jackets. In addition, the top 10 all received cash prizes: $300 first place, $250 second place, $175 third place, $125 fourth place, $100 fifth place and $50 for sixth through tenth place.

First introduced at a loggers’ show in 1972, the Prentice Loader Championship is a contest in which operators demonstrate their skill with the loader by picking up and moving stumps between two checkerboards.

	Name	City	Contest Time	Trophy Run Final Time
1	Brent Hill	Lillington, NC	02:43.35	02:36.39
2	Binky Tapscott	Scottsville, VA	02:44.37	02:37.37
3	Harry Pickett	Hilliard, FL	02:31.92	02:46.50
4	Matthew Taylor	Dunmore, WV	02:46.02	02:57.44
5	Nick Miller	Halifax, VA	02:44.11	03:08.47
6	Billy Coleman	Gladys, VA	02:50.65
7	Ben Hardwick	Francestown, NH	02:51.31
8	Brian Osborn	Waldorf, MD	02:52.34
9	Brad Cahoon	Pinetown, NC	02:54.16
10	Dexter Tapscott	Scottsville, VA	02:59.53

The top finishers in the Prentice Loader Championship at Expo Richmond 2008, May 16-17 in Richmond, Va., are (first to third place from left to right): Brent Hill, Lillington, N.C.; Binky Tapscott, Scottsville, Va.; and Harry Pickett, Hilliard, Fla.

June 3, 2008

NORTHEASTERN FOREST PRODUCTS EQUIPMENT EXPO - ESSEX JUNCTION, VT., MAY 9-10, 2008

Ben Hardwick, Francestown, N.H., did better than 90 other contestants and took home the first place trophy in the Prentice Loader Championship at the Northeast Forest Products Equipment Expo, May 9-10 in Essex Junction, Vt. The Oliver Stores, headquartered in New Gloucester, Maine, provided the contest loader, the Prentice 2384.

The competition also raised $876 for Log A Load For Kids through voluntary contestant contributions and the company’s match. Log A Load is an organization sponsored by loggers and other forest products people to raise funds for hospitals associated with the Children’s Miracle Network.

Hardwick’s Trophy Run time was 2 minutes, 16.9 seconds. Eric Marceau, Lancaster, N.H., took second place with a time of 2 minutes, 27.2 seconds. Marc Riendeau, Danville, Vt., finished third with a final time of 2 minutes, 32.7 seconds. First, second and third place winners received trophies and Prentice jackets. In addition, the top 10 all received cash prizes: $300 first place, $250 second place, $175 third place, $125 fourth place, $100 fifth place and $50 for sixth through tenth place.

First introduced at a loggers’ show in 1972, the Prentice Loader Championship is a contest in which operators demonstrate their skill with the loader by picking up and moving stumps between two checkerboards.

	Name	City	Contest Time	Trophy Run Final Time
1	Ben Hardwick	Francestown, NH	02:32.31	02:16.9
2	Eric Marceau	Lancaster, NH	02:28.72	02:27.2
3	Marc Riendeau	Danville, VT	02:31.09	02:32.7
4	Derrick Berry	Lyndenville, VT	02:39.43	02:38.4
5	Stan Robinson	Passumpsic, VT	02:38.34	Did not run
6	James Cloud	Reading, VT	02:39.69
7	Todd Bass	Hancock, NY	02:41.66
8	Allen Bouthillier	Lancaster, NH	02:44.19
9	Normand Giroux	Stewartstown, NH	02:45.47
10	Jon Duhaime	Tupper Lake, NY	02:45.86

The top finishers in the Prentice Loader Championship at the Northeast Forest Products Equipment Expo, May 9-10 in Essex Junction, Vt., are (first to third place from left to right): Ben Hardwick, Francestown, N.H.; Eric Marceau, Lancaster, N.H.; and Marc Riendeau, Danville, Vt.

September 27, 2007

LAKE STATES LOGGING CONGRESS - ESCANABA, MICH., SEPT. 6-8, 2007

Eight down and two to go for Chad Miskovich, Wakefield, Mich., in his goal to win the Prentice Loader Championship 10 years in a row. He just captured his eighth win in September at the Lake States Logging Congress in Escanaba, Mich., operating a Prentice 2124 A-frame self-loader supplied by Schultz Equipment in Iron Mountain, Mich.

The contest raised $950 for Log a Load for Kids through voluntary contest registration fees and the company’s matching contribution. Through Log a Load, the forestry industry contributes money to children’s hospitals across the United States to treat critically ill and injured children.

Miskovich’s time in the Trophy Run was 2 minutes, 9.57 seconds. Brian McCumber, Tomahawk, Wis., came in second with a time of 2 minutes, 12.15 seconds, and Brian Hartwig, Medford, Wis., captured third with 2 minutes, 20.03 seconds. Neither McCumber nor Hartwig are new players. McCumber has had several top 10 finishes in past contests, and Hartwig has consistently nipped at Miskovich’s heels with second and third place finishes.

Harry Pickett, Hilliard, Fla., who won the Prentice contests at two other forestry shows this year, traveled to Escanaba to try to take “The Triple Crown” — three loader contest wins in one year. He came in tenth, however, and did not qualify for the Trophy Run, which determines the final top five rankings.

First, second and third place winners received trophies and Prentice jackets. In addition, the top 10 all received cash prizes: $300 first place, $250 second place, $175 third place, $125 fourth place, $100 fifth place and $50 sixth through tenth place.

First introduced at a loggers’ show in 1972, the Prentice Loader Championship is a contest in which operators demonstrate their skill with the loader by picking up and moving stumps between two checkerboards.

Top ten winners

	Name	City	Contest Time	Trophy Run Final Time
1	Chad Miskovich	Wakefield, MI	2:24.78	2:09.57
2	Brian McCumber	Tomahawk, WI	2:21.90	2:12.15
3	Brian Hartwig	Medford, WI	2:25.28	2:20.03
4	Cale Frydrych	Armstrong Creek, WI	2:20.07	2:35.38
5	Gust Ullman Jr.	Deerbrook, WI	2:30.09	2:37.47
6	Ron Shamion Jr.	Iron River, MI	2:3303
7	Bill Zellar	Germfask, MI	2:35.06
8	Ken Truscott	Greenland, MI	2:35.78
9	Eric Shamion	Iron River, MI	2:37.81
10	Harry Pickett	Hilliard, Florida	2:40.72

The top finishers in the Prentice Loader Championship at the September Lake States Logging Congress in Escanaba, Mich., were (from fifth to first place): Gust Ullman Jr., Deerbrook, Wis.; Cale Frydrych, Armstrong Creek, Wis.; Brian Hartwig, Medford, Wis.; Brian McCumber, Tomahawk, Wis.; and Chad Miskovich, Wakefield, Mich.

Operators demonstrated their skill with the Prentice 2124 A-frame self-loader by competing in the Prentice Loader Championship at the Lake States Logging Congress in Escanaba, Mich., early September.

May 18, 2007

NORTHEASTERN FOREST PRODUCTS EQUIPMENT ECPO - BANGOR, ME., MAY 4-5, 2007

Harry Pickett, who took first place in the Prentice Loader Championship at the In-Woods Expo in Arkansas, beat out 115 other competitors to take home the biggest trophy at the Northeast Forest Products Equipment Expo, May 4-5 in Bangor, Maine. The Oliver Stores, headquartered in New Gloucester, Maine, provided the contest loader, the Prentice 2384.

The contest also raised $1,130 for Log A Load For Kids through voluntary contestant contributions and the company’s match. Log A Load is an organization sponsored by loggers and other forest products people to raise funds for children’s hospitals associated with the Children’s Miracle Network.

Pickett’s Trophy Run time was 2 minutes, 20.9 seconds. William Carr, Limington, Maine, took second place with a time of 2 minutes, 31.37 seconds. Heath Taylor, Cornish, Maine, wasn’t far behind at 2 minutes, 32.28 to put him in third place. First, second and third place winners received trophies and Prentice jackets. In addition, the top 10 all received cash prizes: $300 first place, $250 second place, $175 third place, $125 fourth place, $100 fifth place and $50 sixth through tenth place.

The last Prentice Loader Championship for the year will be held at the Lake States Logging Congress in Escanaba, Mich., September 7-8. Pickett says he will be there to try to capture what he dubbed “The Triple Crown,” three loader contest wins in one year. He went for the Triple Crown once before. In 1996 he won two contests but came in second at the Lake States show by less than two seconds.

First introduced at a loggers’ show in 1972, the Prentice Loader Championship is a contest in which operators demonstrate their skill with the loader by picking up and moving stumps between two checkerboards.

Top ten winners

	Name	City	Contest Time	Trophy Run Final Time
1	Harry Pickett	Hilliard, Florida	02:23.13	02:20.90
2	William Carr	Limington, Maine	02:24.69	02:31.37
3	Heath Taylor	Cornish, Maine	02:35.50	02:32.28
4	Derrich Berry	Lyndenville, Vermont	02:35.37	02:40.84
5	Eric Marceau	Lancaster, New Hampshire	02:38.66	02:45.72
6	Brent Hill	Lillington, North Carolina	02:46.63
7	Normand Giroux	Stewartstown, New Hampshire	02:47.85
8	Allen Bouthillier	Lancaster, New Hampshire	02:49.53
9	Ben Sanborn	W. Baldwin, Maine	02:51.81
10	Gerard Riendeau	Lyndenville, Vermont	02:52.10

The top finishers in the Prentice Loader Championship at the Northeast Forest Products Equipment Expo May 4-5 in Bangor, Maine, are (third to first place, left to right): Heath Taylor, Cornish, ME.; William Carr, Limington, ME; and Harry Pickett, Hilliard, Fla.

May 15, 2007

IN-WOODS EXPO - HOT SPRINGS, ARK., APRIL 26-28, 2007

Harry Pickett, who finished fourth in the Prentice Loader Grand National Championship last September at the Lake States Logging Congress, took the top prize in the loader contest at In-Woods Expo April 26-28 in Hot Springs, Ark.

The contest raised $1,035 for Log A Load For Kids through voluntary contest registration fees and the company’s matching contribution. Through Log A Load, the forestry industry contributes money to children’s hospitals across the United States to treat critically ill and injured children.

Pickett’s Trophy Run time of 2 minutes, 9.41 seconds, which included a 5 second penalty, was one of the best times ever recorded. “I wanted to redeem myself from the Grand Nationals where I did worse than I have ever done,” says Pickett. “I kind of surprised myself. If it weren’t for the penalty where the block was just barely touching the line, I did the best I’ve ever done. I had trouble with two blocks; otherwise, I might have broke two minutes.”

Robert Seale of Sparkman, Ark., captured second place with a Trophy Run time of 2 minutes, 38 seconds. Third place went to Brent Hill, Lillington, N.C., with a time of 2 minutes, 46.19 seconds. Hill, who also placed third in the Grand National Championship, donated his prize money of $175 to Log A Load.

Suttle Equipment, DeQueen, Ark., and Don’s Hydraulic Equipment, Sheridan, Ark. provided the equipment including this year’s contest loader, the Prentice 2384. Pickett says he likes the speed, smoothness and roomy cab of the 2384. With a flip of a switch, the operator can choose between two work modes: The Run Mode for normal operation yields optimum fuel economy and productivity, while the Power Boost Mode provides up to 40% more power for demanding applications. Pickett was in Run Mode when he put in his winning performance. “That 2384 is so fast, you don’t need the Power Boost,” he says.

First introduced at a loggers’ show in 1972, the Prentice Loader Championship is a contest in which operators demonstrate their skill with the loader by picking up and moving stumps between two checkerboards.

Top ten winners

	Name	City	Contest Time	Trophy Run Final Time
1	Harry Pickett	Hilliard, Florida	02:21.41	02:09.41
2	Robert Seale	Sparkman, Arkansas	02:46.40	02:38.00
3	Brent Hill	Lillington, North Carolina	02:45.53	02:46.19
4	Tommy Carroll	Linden, Tennessee	02:51.09	02:56.37
5	Edward Whitaker	Fouke, Arkansas	02:51.19	03:01.56
6	Charlie Hulett	Fouke, Arkansas	02:53.47
7	Rusty Ledbetter	Gurdon, Arkansas	02:57.91
8	Robert O. Reece	Pollok, Texas	03:00.03
9	Jonathan Cutshall	Iuka, Mississippi	03:00.15
10	Jason Gentry	Shirley, Arkansas	03:00.73

The top finishers in the Prentice Loader Championship at In-Woods Expo April 26-28 in Hot Springs, Ark., were (first to third place, left to right): Harry Pickett, Hilliard, Fla.; Robert Seale, Sparkman, Ark.; and Brent Hill, Lillington, N.C.

September 14, 2006

PRENTICE GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE LAKE STATES LOGGING CONGRESS - GREEN BAY, WISC., SPET 7-9, 2006

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Prentice hydraulic loader, Blount sponsored the first ever national competition. In September 2006 at the Lake States Logging Congress in Green Bay, Wisc., nine men competed for the title of Grand National Champion and a grand prize of $3,000.

BLOCKS FALL IN PLACE FOR PRENTICE
GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION ROLAND MOHN

Roland Mohn’s signature sunny grin grew as wide as his home state of Pennsylvania when his name was announced as the first place winner of the Prentice Loader Grand National Championship held at the Lake States Logging Congress early September. He had a flawless run of 2 minutes, 15.72 seconds.

Second place went to Chad Miskovich with a time of 2 minutes, 30.78 seconds, which includes a 5 second penalty for a block placed over the line.

Third place went to Brent Hill with a penalty-free time of 2 minutes, 36.19 seconds. Unlike Mohn, Miskovich and several other contestants, Hill had entered the contest a number of times but only just made it into the top 10 this year when he placed second in Richmond and then won the Mid-South competition.

The regular Prentice Loader Championship, an annual event at the Lake States show, preceded the Grand National Championship and produced the final wildcard competitor for the Grand National Championship, Brian Hartwig. The contest machine was the Prentice 2384 turntable loader, decked out in the snappy new red, black and white Prentice trade dress.

NOT THE MONEY

The first place winner received $3,000, a leather bomber jacket and trophy. Second and third place finishers received trophies and $2,000 and $1,000, respectively. Confirming that loggers are not in it for the money, Mohn considers his biggest prize the oversized check replica used for the photos. “When I saw that giant check the first time, I thought I want that check. When all the real money is gone, I’ll still have that big check.”

The contests also raised $1,050 for Log A Load for Kids through voluntary contest registration fees and Blount’s matching contribution. In addition, Miskovich donated $300 and Mohn $500 of their prize money, for a grand total of $1,850 to the charity.

Although Prentice loader contests have been a staple at logging shows since 1972, this was the first-ever national competition and Blount did it up right with hoopla befitting the occasion. Clowns, a juggler and a high school marching band performed before the competition, which was emceed by a local CBS news anchor. To ratchet up the suspense, neither the audience nor the contestants knew the official run times until the emcee announced the winners — although there were a few stop watches in the crowd of almost 500 onlookers.

CONTROLLING NERVES

Staying calm under the pressure may have been one of the key factors in the success of the top three.

“When I get in that loader all it takes are those two practice blocks and I don’t even know anybody exists,” Mohn says. “The first thing that comes into my mind is, hey, this is what I do every day. Why be nervous about it?”

Miskovich says he thinks nerves did make the difference and he felt “cool as a cucumber,” while Hill had a little outside help to calm his nerves. During practice before the clock started, he knocked over blocks and thought his old tendency to choke was coming back. But he looked into the crowd and spotted his wife, Wendy, who mouthed the word “breath.” He calmed down and went with it.

SUBTLE DIFFERENCES

As Mohn, who was the last to compete, watched the others he noticed for the first time that he positions the grapple differently from the other competitors. “They held the grapple with one jaw towards them and the other directly away and would slip the grapple low over the blocks,” he explains. “I hold the grapple with one jaw to the left and one to the right and come up, over and down onto the block. Logically the other way should be better, but I am more comfortable coming down over the top of the block.” He says that for a fleeting moment he considered changing his technique, but realized that would be a crazy.

Miskovich points out another subtle factor that could have played a part in Mohn’s win. “Roland wore his boots that he always wears in his machine. He said your feet are the most important part of running that machine, and he’s exactly right. If you wear different shoes the feeling on the pedal is different.” Miskovich was wearing tennis shoes.

FRIENDLY RIVALS

The competitors and their wives or friends spent several days together before the competition touring the Prentice plant and forming new friendships. “We just met in that hotel and right away we started talking like we knew each other for 20 years,” Miskovich says. “I don’t know if it’s because we are loggers and truckers, but we could sit there and talk for three-four hours about everything and not blink an eyelid. We talked more than the women.”

“No matter what part of the country they are from, loggers are great people,” Mohn adds.

But behind the friendship is that urge to win. Asked if he plans to continue to compete, Hill says, “If I’m breathing!” In fact, he may do a little traveling to compete in the contests outside his territory. “Nothing against Chad, but I’m going to try to knock out that 10-year streak he’s going for at the Lake States show.”

	Contestant	Location	Penalties*	Final Time
1	Roland Mohn	Waynesboro, PA	0	2:15.72
2	Chad Miskovich	Wakefield, MI	1	2:30.78
3	Brent Hill	Lillington, North Carolina	0	2:36.19
4	Harry Pickett	Hilliard, FL	1	2:44.75
5	Brian Hartwig	Medford, WI	0	2:48.00
6	Stan Robinson	Passumpsic, VT	2	2:56.35
7	Kris Fowler	Woodville, TX	3	2:58.21
8	Dwayne Marshall	Folkston, GA	5	3:08.00
9	Nelson Boire	West Stewartstown, NH	3	3:13.53

*Each penalty adds 5 seconds to the time.

Left to right: Caterpillar Forest Products Vice President of North American Sales and Marketing Bruce Narveson, Roland Mohn, Chad Miskovich, Brent Hill and Jeff Hobbs, Blount director of North American sales.