Industry Update

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Husqvarna Integrates RedMax Division

The RedMax organization of Husqvarna became part of Husqvarna Professional Products, Inc., which is headed by Dave Zerfoss and also includes the Husqvarna, Yazoo Kees, Dixon and BlueBird brands. The integration of RedMax will create additional operational efficiencies for Husqvarna and create value for its customers through improved customer support and service.

The company will continue to have separate dealer and distributor sales forces for individual brands, but with an integrated leadership approach.

Silent Auction Supports Penn State Turfgrass Programs

A silent auction was held during the 2009 Eastern Pennsylvania Turfgrass Conference & Trade Show, Valley Forge, Pa., raising over $16,000. Funds from the auction support Pennsylvania State University’s turfgrass research and education programs. To date, during the six-year history of the silent auction program, it has raised over $92,000.

Above left: From left, Will Wolverton; Bryan Wood; Nancy Russell, Commercial Turf &Tractor; Steve Russell, Commercial Turf & Tractor; Jurgen Wiedenmann; and Mike Colgan,Commercial Turf & Tractor.Above right: Al Hicks.

Wiedenmann Honors Salesman, Dealer of the Year

At Wiedenmann North America, LLC’s annual Dealer Appreciation Meeting, Will Wolverton, general manager, and Jurgen Wiedenmann, owner, presented awards. Al Hicks, territory manager for ShowTurf, was the 2008 Salesman of the Year. The 2008 Dealer of the Year was Commercial Turf & Tractor, Chillicothe, Miss., owned and operated by Bryan Wood.

New Castle Wins Award

New Castle Lawn & Landscape, Mohnton, Pa., won the “Best of Show” award for its display at the Southeast Pennsylvania Home & Garden Show. New Castle did a “Shipwrecked at Sea” theme with an 8-by-9-foot waterfall and a real, “shipwrecked” boat as the centerpiece. The display incorporated all of the company’s services, including water features, hardscaping, planting, outdoor lighting and outdoor sound systems.

Holland Landscaper Offers Free Lawn Care for Troops

American Lawn Enforcement, Holland Township, N.J., has volunteered to take care of lawns and landscapes of military personnel from Hunterdon while they are overseas. The company, owned by Chris Ludwig, joins the national outreach program GreenCare for Troops, organized and sponsored by Project EverGreen.

N.H. Town Awarded Grant for Organic Lawn Care Project

The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food awarded the town of Kensington, N.H., a grant to demonstrate that lawns in poor condition can be improved and maintained without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. The project leaders are Kensington resident Felicia Motherway and Chester Mandrik, founder of Yard Spice Organics, Hudson, N.H. For the project’s first workday, students from the Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, N.H., helped spread compost on the town hall and library lawns and learned about organic practices for lawn care.

Stens donated an ambulanceto Mercy & Sharing.

Stens Donates Ambulance

Stens donated an ambulance to Mercy & Sharing, an organization dedicated to helping feed, educate and provide medical care for children and widows in Haiti. Mark Salter, the Stens vendor who approached the company about the donation, is the program director of Mercy & Sharing.

Atlantic Pest Solutions Partners with Davis Landscape

Atlantic Pest Solutions Companies, Arundel and Brunswick, Maine, and Davis Landscape Co., Lisbon, Maine, announced a strategic partnership. Atlantic has extended its business to include two other divisions, Atlantic Green Solutions and Atlantic Mosquito & Tick. Formerly Davis’ turf manager, Christopher Turmelle now manages Atlantic’s turf division.

Yankees Sod and Grass Seed Available

Through a new local licensing agreement between Major League Baseball and Stadium Associates, LLC (teamed with DeLea Sod Farms), fans of the New York Yankees can own the same grass that is on the field in Yankee Stadium. It is available as Yankees Sod and Yankees Grass Seed.

Richard Vega moves boulderswith his Kioti DK45 tractor.

Vega Wins Kioti Success Story Contest

Kioti Tractor announced Richard Vega, Lake George, N.Y., as the winner of its 2008 National Success Stories Contest. It was conducted online through www.kioti.com to collect customer stories about how they use their Kioti tractors. One winner was chosen every month, and those winners became eligible for the grand prize. Vega, who owns Adirondack Furniture Designs, received a $1,500 gift card.

Wright Names Sales Rep of the Year

Wright Mfg. presented its Sales Representative of the Year Award to John Franke of PACE, Inc. PACE, based in Plymouth, Mich., earned Wright’s Market Expansion Award and Sales Representative of the Year Award in 2007 and was Wright’s 2006 and 2008 Distributor of the Year.

First Products Redesigns Web Site

First Products launched a new Web site at www.1stproducts.com, redesigned to make it easier for customers and dealers to interact with the company online. Visitors can now go straight to equipment options for individual industries, including downloadable spec sheets and mini brochures, as well as multiple product images. The “order tines” form and parts book are now under “Customer Tools.”