Yellowhammer Times

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) hosted its annual equipment ROADeo for the Fayette Area on April 24. The event aimed to bring together skilled heavy equipment operators from the region for a day focused on competition and professional development.

Participants were challenged to demonstrate their skills in safety and precision through various hands-on equipment tests. Operators used machines such as single- and tandem-axle dump trucks, tractor mowers, backhoes, motor graders, skid-steer loaders, and lowboys.

Top performers from the Fayette Area—which includes Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Walker, Winston counties, and the northern half of Greene County—will move on to compete at the statewide ROADeo in Montgomery on May 15. Successful competitors there will have the opportunity to represent Alabama at the Southeast Regional Competition this fall in Kentucky.

ALDOT also noted that its Tuscaloosa Area held its annual equipment ROADeo on April 16.

The results from the Fayette Area ROADeo are as follows:

In the Single-Axle Dump Truck category: Andrew Self from Fayette District took first place; Jason Earnest and Bryant Butts from Jasper District followed.

For Tandem-Axle Dump Trucks: Bryant Butts from Jasper District won first place; Tony Stidham and Joe Snipes from Fayette Area came next.

In Tractor Mower: Matt Watkins from Fayette District was first; Chuck Collins also from Fayette District and Dillon Haley from Fayette Area followed.

For Backhoe: Matt Watkins again led for Fayette District; Jason Earnest from Jasper District and Andrew Odom from Fayette District placed next.

In Motor Grader: Allen Duckworth topped for Fayette District; Matt Watkins and Kyle Sullivan both also represented Fayette District.

For Skid-Steer Loader: Dillon Haley was first for Fayette Area; Brett Green and Ty McClain followed in representation of the same area.

Lastly, in Lowboy: Bo Williams took first place representing Hamilton District; Bradley Price from Jasper District and Joe Snipes from Fayette Area completed the list.

An asterisk indicates a competitor advancing despite not placing first since only one person can compete in an event at the state level.

Information from this article can be found here.