The 2011 forklift rodeo season begins in Washington State on Saturday, 11 June with a regional event at the Volpentest HAMMER (hazardous materials management and emergency response) Training and Education Center in Richland.

Professional forklift drivers will have other regional opportunities to compete on 9 July in Spokane and 20 August in Auburn. The top prize in each region is USD300.

The five winners at each regional event will advance to the 14th annual state finals on 28-29 September in Tacoma during the 60th Governor's Industrial Safety and Health Conference. The governor's industrial safety and health advisory board and the Washington State Department Of Labor and Industries co-sponsor the conference.

Defending forklift rodeo champion Ron Cochran is with a Seattle, Washington facility of harbour services provider and project manager Foss Maritime Co. He won the 2010 top individual plaque and a USD500 prize. "I'm already signed up," Foss says. "This will be the fifth year I've done it."

Participants in the statewide competition go through a written examination, pre-flight equipment inspection and a demonstration of forklift operating skills on an automatic transmission 5,000 lb. (2,250 kg) forklift that the organisers provide.

Registration requires a USD40 entry fee. Spectators may attend without charge