Massengale to Maintain Family Farm, Benefit Breast Cancer Research with KIOTI Subcompact Tractor

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From a simple email received prior to the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition this past October, came the presentation of the keys to a pink CS2410 Subcompact KIOTI Tractor equipped with a loader and mid-mount mower to Karen Massengale on December 21, 2012, by Thomas MacArthur, Southeastern territory manager for KIOTI Tractor.
 
The longtime nurse and her husband Don planned to attend the show with a group from their local Rhea County Farm Bureau. Before leaving for the show, the couple received an email announcing that a pink tractor would be on display in KIOTI Tractor’s exhibition booth to help raise awareness of Breast Cancer during National Breast Cancer Awareness month. The company would be accepting silent bids throughout the show for the tractor, with the proceeds being donated to breast cancer research, prevention and treatment. Upon receipt of the email, they decided they’d each enter a bid to support the cause.
 
A few days later, she received a phone call from KIOTI Tractor notifying her that she had placed the winning bid. “I never imagined we’d actually win the tractor,” she said. “I am so excited to own this limited edition tractor and to continue to generate awareness and support for breast cancer in our local community.”
 
Upon receipt of the news, Massengale began working with Elizabeth Turner of River Valley Ag Credit to acquire the financing to complete the purchase. Turner, whose mother is a seven-year breast cancer survivor, rallied to get the company’s typical loan fees waived and an aggressive finance rate for the purchase. “Breast Cancer is near and dear to me,” states Turner. “I was more than willing to do anything I could do to help with the purchase and support breast cancer research.”
 
With a 200-acre Century Farm in Dayton, Tenn., the Massengale’s are both well-educated and passionate when it comes to tractors. The new KIOTI CS2410 will be the sixth tractor in their fleet. Its primary use will be to complete general maintenance around the Massengale’s family-owned and operated cattle farm.
 
Upon receipt of the keys, the Massengale’s happily posed for photographs next to their new KIOTI CS2410, even nicknaming the new tractor Angie in honor of David Pettus’, a product support specialist for KIOTI Tractor, late wife Angie who passed away from breast cancer. Pettus volunteered to drive the pink tractor from KIOTI Tractor’s North American headquarters in Wendell, N.C., to Cleveland, Tenn., for delivery to the Massengale’s.
 
KIOTI Tractor donated the $15,267.00 raised through the silent auction to the UNC Lineberger Cancer Center, one of the leading cancer centers in the nation, located in Chapel Hill, N.C. Two additional CS2410’s have been painted pink for 2013. One will be displayed with a silent auction held at the National Farm Machinery Show from February 13-16 in Louisville, Ky. The other will be on tour throughout Canada this spring and summer. All proceeds from both tractors will be donated to cancer research and prevention.