Penn College Students Among Top Finishers at Annual 'Rodeo'

Published 03.21.2005

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Stephen R. Ganser, left, and Bryan T. Farney display their Rodeo trophies in the Earth Science Center library.Two Pennsylvania College of Technology students were among the top individual finishers at the annual Heavy Equipment Rodeo, held at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center near Allenwood as part of the College's Spring Visitation Day on March 19.

The rodeo offers students a chance to showcase their skills, both behind the controls of heavy machinery and in troubleshooting any equipment problems that might arise during competition.

Bryan T. Farney, Saxonburg, enrolled in Penn College's Heavy Construction Equipment Technology-Operator major, finished first in the Backhoe/Loader Egg Competition. Participants in that event used heavy equipment to maneuver a fragile egg onto an above-ground perch.

Earning second-place honors for the Backhoe/Loader Softball Competition was Stephen R. Ganser, Johnstown, a student in the Heavy Construction Equipment Technology-Caterpillar major. Competitors there had to position two tethered softballs into separate receptacles several feet apart.

The overall champion was Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology, Pleasant Gap. We-Mo-Co Vocational/Technical Center in Spencerport, N.Y., finished second, and Penn College placed third.

Other participating schools were Cayuga Onondaga BOCES, Auburn, N.Y.; Hewes Education, Auburn, N.Y.; Wildwood Education Center, Hornell, N.Y.; WSWHE Boces, Hudson Falls, N.Y.; and Lancaster County Career and Technology Center.

Equipment for the rodeo was donated by industry partners of Penn College and its School of Natural Resources Management: Allenwood Equipment Inc., Allenwood RR 1; Best Line Leasing Inc., Muncy; Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co. Inc., Watsontown; and Highway Equipment and Supply Co., Harrisburg.

The events were judged by volunteers from the Heavy Construction Equipment Advisory Committee and their employees, many of whom are College alumni: Allenwood Equipment Inc.; Best Line Leasing Inc.; Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co. Inc.; the Clinton County Solid Waste Authority; Highway Equipment and Supply Co.; and Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc., State College.

For more information about academic programs offered by the School of Natural Resources Management at Penn College, call (570) 320-8038, send e-mail or visit on the Web.