CAT MACHINES STEAL THE SHOW AT AWWA.

The parking lot of the Four Rivers Cultural Center in Ontario, Oregon was the site of an unusual scene recently: a Cat backhoe and mini-excavator sat in the middle of the pavement, surrounded by caution tape and excited onlookers.

The occasion?  The American Wastewater Association was hosting semi-annual seminars and a trade show, and Western States was invited to put on an equipment rodeo for attendees during session breaks.

Out in the parking lot, conference guests were invited to try their hand at games of equipment operator skill on the backhoe and mini-excavator.  Many of the attendees knew each other, so the scene got competitive in short order.  Spectators also joined in with both cheers and friendly heckling.  Participants were reluctant to hand over the equipment controls to the next person in line, and more than a few came back for a second (or third) round of fun.

Among a crowd that admitted to sometimes using our competitors’ equipment, many faces were reflecting yellow and black envy by the end of the day.