2012 grand champion Jeff Edmund (left) receives USD500 cheque from Tim Eacrett, materials handling/rodeo panel co-chairman.

Jeff Edmund of Puget Sound Energy (PSE) won USD500 and a plaque as grand champion of the 2012 forklift rodeo in Washington State. PSE is a regulated utility and an operation of Puget Holdings LLC of Bellevue, Washington.

After two preliminary qualifying events in July and August, 14 companies sent 46 drivers to the state's 15th annual forklift rodeo on 26 September in Spokane during the governor's industrial safety and health conference.

In the team category, Rod Barton, Greg Hoover and Justin Hare representing Kaiser Aluminum in Spokane won first place. Each driver received USD300 and a plaque.

Other individual winners were Ron Cochran of Foss Maritime (second); Fred Ryser of Travis Pattern & Foundry Inc (tied third); Tom Norman of Columbia Crest Winery (tied third) and Omar Ornelas of Boeing Co (fifth).

Ornelas, Robert Schunzel and Mike Weinman represented Boeing in winning second place in the team competition.

On behalf of the rodeo organisers, Mark Ribich says, "The drivers who put it all on the line show skill, pride and dedication to their craft. They inspire and teach others who watch them compete, show leadership, fellowship and a sincere desire to achieve nothing less than their best performance."

Competitors for Southern Wine & Spirits of America Inc came from Hawaii to participate in the rodeo.

Other companies with driver participants were ConAgra Foods Inc, Columbia Colstor Inc, C&D Zodiac Inc, Henningsen Cold Storage Co, AmeriCold Logistics LLC, idX Corp and Sargento Foods Inc.

Ives Training & Compliance Group Inc of Blaine led the judging team and, along with a Seattle operation of Boeing, was a platinum sponsor.

Other contributing sponsors were Stellar Safety Supply, Papé Material Handling, Norlift Inc, Volpentest HAMMER Training and Education Center, Northwest Forklift Inc, Linde Material Handling North America, Columbia Crest Winery and Equipment Experts Inc.