Source: www.TurfMagazine.com
Popularity of the Wright Stander Helps Takes Dealer to the Top
Major League Power Equipment, a dealership specializing in landscape, lawn and outdoor power equipment in East Setauket, N.Y., is one of the leading dealers in Wright Stander sales in the Northeast corridor for the second consecutive year.
Artie D’Ambra (left), presents Peter Guido with PKG Gardens (right) a $500 AMEX gift check for purchasing the dealer’s 500th Wright mower sold.
Over the last three years, Wright Stander sales at Major League Power Equipment have more than doubled.
The Wright Stander was introduced in 1997 and was the first and only mower on the market at the time to feature the now familiar stand-on design. Artie D’Ambre, owner of Major League Power Equipment, was the first dealer on Long Island to offer the Stander. The Stander quickly became his best-selling model, and has been a major factor, along with the addition of other Wright models, in helping to drive Major League Power Equipment’s growth and success ever since.
Today, the dealership offers 15 Wright models, with the 36-inch Stander Rapid Height its best-selling model.
In addition to offering the full Wright lineup, the dealership stocks every single part of each Wright mower.
The Toro Company Sponsors Irrigation Foundation & Efforts to Send Students to Irrigation Show
In support of the Irrigation Foundation and one of its key initiatives, the Irrigation Foundation recently received a $20,000 donation from the Toro Company. In addition to being a founding donor, Toro is also being recognized as a master sponsor of the Irrigation Foundation and as an initiative sponsor supporting Irrigation Show student attendees.
In addition to general operating support, Toro’s contribution will also help send four Irrigation E3 student learners to the upcoming Irrigation Show and Education Conference in Austin, Texas, Nov. 4-8. E3 is focused on exposure, experience and education for students. Selected students will participate in education classes, interact with the latest technology, network with industry leaders and gain a real-life perspective of the irrigation industry by spending one-on-one time with sponsors.
For information on how you or your company can support Irrigation Foundation efforts, visit www.irrigation.org/donatetofoundation.
Jobs and Skills Key Focus of Green Industry College Championship
More than 800 college students from 70 colleges and universities competed for top honors at the Professional Landcare Network’s (PLANET) Student Career Days, the collegiate championship for the green industry, held at Auburn University from March 7-10. STIHL, Inc. serves as the lead, platinum sponsor for the event, where students pit their expertise against other top college teams and interview with some of the leading green industry companies.
To improve their professional expertise, students compete in academic and practical events as diverse as small engine repair, computer design, wood construction, annual and perennial identification, arboriculture techniques, business management, hardscape installation, landscape plant installation, plant problem diagnosis and woody ornamental plant identification. The competition also provides a chance to for students to learn from top experts.
Brigham Young University-Idaho placed first out of more than 70 schools and received $5,000 from STIHL, Inc. Brigham Young University Provo placed second.
As part of the event PLANET organized a career fair which attracted many of the top landscape and horticulture companies from around the country.
In addition to its role as lead event sponsor, STIHL was the lead sponsor for two of the skill competitions. More than 120 students competed in the STIHL, Inc. small engine repair and wood construction events. First place honors went to:
- Small engine repair: Aaron Kirk of Brigham Young University-Provo topped 40 competitors in the small engine repair event. A written exam determined qualifiers for the practical exam, where a hands-on, timed, repair session with a STIHL chain saw determined expertise in identifying and solving engine problems.
- Wood construction: Micah Wood and Trevor Stevens from Brigham Young University-Idaho took top honors against 40 teams in a timed event testing each team’s ability to read blueprints and construct a wooden bench. Judges evaluated the quality of construction, neatness and safety during the construction process to determine the winning team.
STIHL also made it possible for two high school FFA teams from North Carolina and Minnesota to attend PLANET Student Career Days in order to introduce the next generation to green industry skills. The Southern Alamance FFA team from North Carolina and the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winstead FFA team from Minnesota earned this honor by placing first and second respectively in the 2012 National FFA Nursery and Landscaping CDE competition.