Michael Rose in action.

Materials handling equipment operators Michael Rose, Tony Grimes and Mike Chilbert won free vacations for achievements in Dot Foods Inc's national forklift rodeo on 24 June in Mount Sterling.

Rose, a resident of Kingston, Oklahoma, was the forklift champion and joined with others also representing the Ardmore, Oklahoma distribution centre in attaining the best overall score in their category.

Grimes, a resident of Hagerstown, Maryland, won in the mule category. He represented the distribution centre in Williamsport, Maryland.
Chilbert, a resident of Liverpool, New York, won in the narrow-aisle reach truck competition. He represented the Liverpool distribution centre.
Each is entitled to a trip to Key West in Florida, Cancun in Mexico or one of four other vacation destinations.

"Not only is this event fun and exciting for our warehouse employees and their families, but it promotes safe and efficient operation of the equipment," says John Long, vice president of warehousing.

Winners of qualifying rounds in each of Dot Foods' eight distribution centres across the country advanced to the finals. "With all of the excitement surrounding Dot's 50th anniversary this year, there was an even greater atmosphere and sense of pride for the grand nationals," reports Matt Carey, Illinois warehouse support manager and 2010 forklift rodeo co-ordinator.

Dot Foods carries 92,000 products from 500 food industry manufacturers and says it is the largest food redistributor in the US.

Meanwhile, the Yale forklift organisation and dealership KMH Systems Inc have agreed to sponsor the 16th annual US Open Forklift Rodeo & Safety Expo taking place from 29-30 October in Springfield, Ohio.

KMH has nine branch locations in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Tennessee.

The Springfield/Clark County Safety Council and Forkliftaction.com are other sponsors of this year's US Open.