GROVE CITY, Pa. – John Scheafnocker of Grove City, Pa., won a Bobcat 773 Limited Edition skid-steer loader as the grand prize winner in the Bobcat 500K Skid-Steer Loader Contest.
Scheafnocker was chosen from more than 30,000 entries from contractors, farmers, landscapers and other users who described their toughest jobs that tested both their personal endurance and their compact equipment.
“I didn’t even dream of winning,” Scheafnocker said.
He learned of the contest when he went into his local Bobcat dealership, Leppo Equipment, and said in a greeting, “What’s new, guys?” When they pointed out a brochure that explained the new contest, the idea took hold.
Scheafnocker used his older 751 Bobcat to almost single-handedly build his custom crafted log home, right down to the nearly 2 miles of hand-notched timbers.
Entries were judged on the description of their toughest job story, comments on what they would do with a new Limited Edition 773 Skid-Steer Loader, and remarks on what attachment would give them the most productivity.
Helping hand. “My toughest job was to build a custom crafted log home from scratch without the aid of blueprints, on a budget of $35 a square foot,” said Scheafnocker. “I used my Bobcat loader for clearing the lot and moving dirt, gravel and stone. This job also required debarking, sizing and stacking a mile and half of timber – over 200 logs in all. My loader was instrumental in moving and positioning the logs around the lot.”
And while he was building his new home, he was commuting 50 miles one way to get to the new home site.
“I don’t know how in the world I did that myself,” he admits now.
“The toughest job stories were impressive,” said Chuck Hoge, president and CEO of Bobcat Company. “From animal rescue stories to tales about the impossible being made possible with compact equipment, the selection process was difficult.”
The 500K Limited Edition Bobcat 773 loader is equipped with a deluxe operator package that includes 13-inch super flotation tires, deluxe enclosed cab with heat and air conditioning, deluxe instrumentation with keyless start security system, hydraulic Power Bob-Tach and a turbo-charged diesel engine.
The machine also features the limited edition decal package, gold wheel rims and a gold tailgate. The formal presentation was made Dec. 6 at Scheafnocker’s home.
“The new Bobcat skid-steer loader will be used for my newly formed sawmill operation, Timber Trails” Scheafnocker said. “I’m harvesting 30 acres of prime northeastern hardwood for land management and lumber inventory. My Bobcat loader is my only help!”
