Find a Contractor Buyer's Guide
MCAA Logo
Member Login JOIN
NEWS
Join Us For The 75th Anniversary Midyear Meeting Sep 7-11 ↗

Wehage crowned skid steer champion

Words: Truskill Construction/Public/News/20111126070000-1.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="Trevor Wehage earned the title of North American Skid Steer Champion." />
Trevor Wehage earned the title of North American Skid Steer Champion.
New Holland Construction announced that Trevor Wehage, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, earned the title of North American Skid Steer Champion. Wehage, who works for Don Wehage & Sons Trucking & Excavating Ltd. in Saskatoon, defeated more than 30 of the most talented compact equipment operators in the United States and Canada in a series of skill-testing challenges using a New Holland 200 Series skid steer loader. The championship event took place during the 2011 GIE+EXPO show last week in Louisville, Ky.

The field consisted of more than 2,000 participants who competed in New Holland Construction Super Boom Road Show events across the United States and Canada this year. Wehage, who has operated equipment similar to skid steer loaders for 14 years, came in first place with a winning time of 00:21.10. Along with the crown, owner/operator Wehage earned the grand prize of a New Holland Construction 200 Series skid steer loader — valued at US$35,000 — plus a leather jacket and a commemorative scale model of a New Holland 200 Series skid steer loader.

Coming in at a close second place in the competition was Thomas Mellott, Mercersburg, Pa., with a time of 00:21.81. Mellott, who works for Ken-Mel Farm in Mercersburg, earned a US$2,500 cash prize, a leather jacket and a commemorative scale model of a New Holland 200 Series skid steer loader for himself, and a US$2,500 Parts and Service reward card for his company.

Third place in the competition went to owner/operator Christopher Howlett, Marietta, N.Y., with a time of 00:23.53. Howlett, who works for C.D. Howlett in Marietta, earned a US$1,250 cash prize, a leather jacket and a commemorative scale model of a New Holland 200 Series skid steer loader.

The North American Skid Steer Championship event completes the year-long celebration of the launch of the New Holland Construction 200 Series skid steer loaders.

"The New Holland Construction North American Skid Steer Championship competition demonstrated the advantages of our new 200 Series skid steers. This includes outstanding control, easy attachment changes, precise maneuverability, superior visibility and best-in-class dump height and reach," said Dave December, New Holland Construction marketing manager.

"New Holland Construction skid steer operators like Wehage, Mellott and Howlett are pros," December said. "They do everything from material handling and landscaping to grading, plowing and digging. The New Holland Construction North American Skid Steer Championship event gave all semi-finalists a chance to operate the newest New Holland Construction equipment and put their skills to the test on a national stage."New Holland Construction's leadership in the skid steer loader category began in 1972 with the introduction of the L35 — the industry's first skid steer loader with roll-over protective structures (ROPS) and a vertical lift boom system. Since then, New Holland Construction has produced more than 200,000 skid steer loaders for customers in the landscaping, agricultural and construction markets.

Events benefit local American and Canadian Red Cross chapters

The New Holland Construction Super Boom Road Show events also provided fundraising and volunteer opportunities with local chapters of the American Red Cross and the Canadian Red Cross. At each event, local Red Cross chapter representatives were on site to generate awareness of local activities and recruit volunteers.

New Holland Construction made a $500 contribution to each Red Cross chapter that participated in the Super Boom Road Show events. During the championship award ceremony last week, New Holland Construction donated an additional US$2,500 to the American Red Cross Louisville Area chapter. To date, New Holland Construction and its dealers have donated more than $29,000 to the Red Cross through the Super Boom Road Show events.

As part of the world's largest humanitarian organization, the Red Cross works to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found.

"New Holland Construction is in a unique position to support the efforts of local Red Cross chapters, like the American Red Cross Louisville Area chapter, across the United States and Canada," December said. "The Super Boom Road Show gave New Holland Construction dealers and customers an opportunity to make a difference in their communities — in addition to the causes they currently support."

For more information on the American Red Cross, please visit www.redcross.org. For more information on the Canadian Red Cross, please visit www.redcross.ca.
 0
Using Respirators for Silica Exposure
July 2025

Some in the masonry industry have expressed interest in respirator use as protection from harmful exposure to silica. This topic is of paramount importance due to its impact on our workers and the serious health effects of silica exposure. For those new t

Zach Everett
Read More
From Bikes to Buildings: The Importance of Embracing Rainscreen Wall Designs and the New Building Codes.
July 2025

Have you ever been asked to do a project over the course of your lifetime? For example, when my kids were little, my wife asked me to assemble their bicycles. So, I opened the box, dumped out the contents, and cast aside whatever I thought was unnecessary

Keith Lolley
MAP Partner
Read More
Laying the Foundation for Growth: Concrete Masonry Checkoff Unveils Five-Year Vision for Industry
July 2025

The Concrete Masonry Checkoff (CMC) put the finishing touches on an ambitious five-year vision for the industry, targeting a 20% increase in market share, driven by increased demand for concrete masonry products. “This is about building exquisite, enduri

Industry News
Read More
Five of the Seven Chimneys Have Been Saved: Project Chimney Update
July 2025

In the wake of the devastating January wildfires that swept through Los Angeles's Pacific Palisades, a remarkable preservation effort is underway, spearheaded by Project Chimney, an initiative led by Evan Hall, founding director of the non-profit House Mu

Justin Stengel
Industry News
Read More