Organisers of the US Open Forklift Rodeo are calling for entries for the 2009 event to be staged in October.

Don Amburgey, chairman of the US Open Forklift Rodeo & Safety Expo Committee, notes that the event has come a long way since the Springfield/Clark County Safety Council (SCCSC) conducted its first forklift rodeo in 1994.

The contest has grown into a national event and will take on an international dimension this year after a similar competition was staged in Lisbon, Portugal and another is planned for the United Kingdom.

The participation of a Portuguese team has already been confirmed and participants from a similar event in Maryland will also compete in the October 30-31 expo at the Clark County Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ohio.

Amburgey says the same format will be followed for this year's event. "We have developed many outstanding, competitive, championship-level operators .. and less experienced operators have their own competitive division in which to learn, enjoy and flex their pride," he says.

"The event continues to feature two-person teams and every operator is in the running for individual 'Top Gun' recognition to include cash prizes and more. The 'Top Gun' has the potential to take home $750 in addition to the traditional trophy!"

The committee has also announced the expansion of the Safety Expo, which will include safety-related vendor activities.

Forkliftaction.com is once again sponsoring the event.

For more information, visit the U.S. Open Forklift Rodeo & Safety Expo website.