ProRodeo Sports News - May 31, 2019

food pantry and youth sports, all while putting on one of the biggest rodeos in the Midwest. “Winning the award is great because it shows our local community that what we do for our community and how we give back is not something to be ashamed of or taken lightly, and that we have an impact that rivals any rodeo in the country,” said Ross Merideth, the 2018 chairman for the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. (Sikeston’s committee gets a new chairman each year.) Sowing Good Deeds raises awareness about efforts such as Sikeston’s, then rewards one PRCA committee each year whose impact goes above and beyond. “Massey Ferguson and Hesston both are brands about heritage and community,

ceremony held before the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. “I love that Massey Ferguson and Hesston can be part of the rodeo and the rodeo committees and the Americana piece that exists out there.” Upgraded equipment makes it easier for the winning rodeo to do greater work. “Having the tractor itself is already paying off, we’ve been using it a ton,” Merideth said. “It’s already worth its weight in gold for us to have equipment that’s perfect for us.” Before winning in 2018, Sikeston didn’t have equipment like what they received through the Sowing Good Deeds program. “We just had a large, closed-cab model with no attachments,” Merideth said. “We could move our

QUICK FACTS • Open to all PRCA-sanctioned rodeo committees, regardless of size. • Applications accepted May 1 through Sept. 15 and must be submitted 30 days before the rodeo event. • Participating rodeo committees must apply for the Sowing Good Deeds program and meet certain criteria. • Participating rodeos will receive a Hesston and Massey Ferguson Sowing Good Deeds banner to hang in their arena. • Selection screening process set for Oct. 16-30. • Community impact (weighted average: 40%) – A ro- deo committee that is measurably improving the com- munity through volunteer efforts, community-focused initiatives, projects and other methods. • Innovation (weighted average: 30%) – A rodeo com- mittee that exemplifies the spirit of entrepreneurialism within the nonprofit sector. A committee that has iden- tified opportunities or unmet needs and, as a result, has initiated changes or developed innovative solutions. • Adversity (weighted average: 30%) – A rodeo com- mittee that faced significant challenges and was able to respond and rebound to build a stronger, more sus- tainable organization. • To apply, visit http://hesston.com/sowinggooddeeds/ WHAT IT TAKES Recognition and award will be based on:

stage and work the ground, but guys brought their own equipment. At times, we would borrow a skid-steer for special events. “Now, we can do it more efficiently without the risk of damaging borrowed equipment.” Applications for the 2019 Sowing Good Deeds program are being accepted at hesston.com/ sowinggooddeeds. “It’s not so much the quantity of work they do in the community but the quality and the people they are helping,” LeCroy said. Parker echoed LeCroy’s statement. “When I look at Hesston by Massey Ferguson and the Massey Ferguson brand, it’s about making people’s lives better on the farm and in rodeo,” Parker said. “When I look at how that ties to a rodeo committee like the Sikeston rodeo in Missouri – what they were doing was just amazing work. “When I looked at all the applications we got, I was completely amazed by the quality and commitment to the community, the farmers, the rodeo, the equine andWestern community. “They mirror Hesston and Massey Ferguson very well, so if I’m going to spend advertising dollars anywhere I’m going to spend it there.”

and it’s amazing how they tie together with what these rodeo committees do,” Parker said. This year will mark the third time Sowing Good Deeds has given a tractor to an exemplary rodeo. The Clovis (Calif.) Rodeo was the first winner in 2017, followed by Sikeston in 2018. Marketing manager Matt LeCroy said the process has stirred up emotions for their crew. “We didn’t know what we were getting into in the beginning, we thought we were just helping out a local rodeo,” LeCroy said. “But then we started getting all the requests and applications, and we started seeing all the good work these people do. …We think it’s a great fit for not only our products and our customers, but also a great fit for the rodeo committees that are doing such great work.” During the 2019 ProRodeo season, Hesston and Massey Ferguson will share the stories of rodeo committees across the country who are “Sowing Good Deeds” in their communities. Later this year, one rodeo committee will win the Massey Ferguson tractor for their work. “It’s one of the highlights of the week for me when I’m down there for the rodeo,” Parker said of the awards

ProRodeo Sports News 5/31/2019

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