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.