Page 12 • July 31, 2019 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT GUIDE

Thompson Tractor Hosts 2019 Cat Global Operator ChallengeCaterpillar dealers across the country are in the midst of

hosting 2019 Global Operator Challenge events tofind their territory’s best equipment operator and send

them to the regional finals in Clayton, N.C., this October.The ultimate goal is of course advancing to the next level andcompeting against operators from around the world at theCat Global Finals at ConExpo in Las Vegas, Nev., in 2020.On July 18, it was Thompson Tractor’s time to conduct

their Northern Alabama competition in Cullman, Ala. Thecompetition was held just off the I-65 ramp at Exit 299 on a10-acre piece of property owned by Scotty Hooper of S&LLeasing & Excavating that is central to several ofThompson’s facilities in the northern portion of the state.Hooper is a 40-plus year customer and friend of many in theThompson Tractor organization, as well as a regular buyer ofCaterpillar equipment. He said he was happy to help out andlend his piece of land for the event, pointing out that he ownsthe same machines that are being used in this competition.David Hicks of David Hicks Construction, Hayden, Ala.,

competed in this challenge and admitted he hadn’t been in anoperator competition since one held by Thompson Tractorback in the late 1990s. He conceded that the machines havecome a long way with a whole lot more comfort and a wholelot more technology for performance, as well as being awhole lot more operator-friendly.“All I own is Cat equipment and Thompson Tractor has

really taken care of me,” Hicks added. “As a matter of fact, my dad worked for them some time

ago and that’s where I got my love for Cat machines. I thinkI’m up to 21 machines in my fleet now and my highwaytrucks run Cat engines as well.”More than 70 highly skilled and “seasoned” operators reg-

istered for this challenge, and as the Alabama summer heatwent up, so did the level of the competition. When all wassaid and done, the overall winners of the Thompson TractorCentral & North Alabama Operator Challenge were: 1stplace Jonathan Hagood; 2nd place Jonathan Poole; and 3rdplace Kelly Childers. CEG

SITECH South always comes out to these events withtheir best Trimble technology displays and lots of sup-port from their staff (L-R) including Greg Gay, RandyWhite, Ed Upchurch, Stephen Miraglia and ChrisSanders.

Kevin Moro (far R), Thompson Tractor technical serv-ices manager, goes over the rules of the Fully Loadedevent with a group of registered contestants.

Ricky Posey (R) of the Rogers Group, Tuscumbia, Ala.,gets a warm welcome to the event from ThompsonTractor’s Ty Hunt.

Matt Payne (L) and David Ginn of GoodgameCompany, Pell City, Ala., get prepared to tackle the CatD5K2 XL dozer challenge.

Danny Page (in cab) of the Alabama Surface MineCommission gets complete instructions on the Cat 320excavator challenge from Clayton Walley, ThompsonTractor certified dealer instructor.

Woodard Brothers Grading based in Anniston, Ala.,brought a huge team of operators to the event (L-R)including Jonathan Poole, Preston Woodard, CalebWoodard, Phillip Woodard, Jeff Woodard and BryanWoodard.

Enjoying the day’s activities and having a few laughsbefore making a run at the motor grader challenge areGene Massey (L) and Chad Price (R) of VulcanMaterials Company, Gurley, Ala., with ThompsonTractor’s certified dealer instructor Jeff Smith.

see THOMPSON page 59