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Freeman holds off challengers to win
second straight 'roadeo' title

Twenty-four of ITD’s best equipment operators from throughout the state assembled this week to demonstrate their skills and compete for a chance to represent Idaho at the regional finals this fall in Colorado.

The 2007 Statewide Truck Rodeo included the top foreman and top three maintenance workers emerging from the six district roadeos held in May and early June. Rex Hufford, who has coordinated the roadeo program the past decade, said 168 maintenance workers and foremen participated in district events this year.

The finalists assembled for the state roadeo Tuesday at the Mountain Home maintenance facility.

Final standings represent the average scores of snowplow and loader driving competition added to scores on a 10-question multiple choice exam about topics related to participants' jobs and a truck inspection to identify five "planted" defects.

Robin Freeman, a foreman from the Council maintenance shed in District 3, successfully defended his 2006 championship by finishing 130 points ahead of runner-up Mike Praegitzer of District 4. Freeman was first in both the snowplow and loader events (average scores of 1,558 and 1,425 respectively) en route to a total of 3,183 points. Praegitzer, the shop superintendent who competed as a foreman, scored 3,053 points overall after finishing sixth in snowplow and fourth in loader competition.

Mike Rearden took third place overall, giving foremen a sweep of the top three places at the state roadeo. The top “non-foreman” driver was District 2’s Frank Allen, who scored 2,938. Rick Connell of District 4, rounded out the top five finishers.

Freeman and Praegitzer qualify to represent Idaho at the annual Western Snow and Ice Conference to be held at Estes Park, Colo., Sept. 25-28. Last fall, Freeman finished ninth among 67 competitors in the loader event at the regional event in Colorado. He teamed up with David Palmer of District 1 to take 12th overall in the single-axel team driving event; they combined for 13th in the tandem-axel team driving event.

District Roadeo Finalists

District 1 (37 participants): Top foreman: Mike Rearden. Drivers: 1, John Reed; 2, Frank Farnsworth; 3, Jeff Keicker (Kurt Urbat competed as an alternate at the state roadeo, replacing Reed).

District 2 (21 participants): Top foreman: Mike Allen. Drivers: 1, Frank Allen; 2, John Richmond; 3, Ron Dammon. (Frank and Mike are brothers)

Distirct 3 (32 participants): Top foreman: Robin Freeman. Drivers: Martin Meyers; 2, Jerry Hiller; 3, Bob Hutchings.

District 4 (33 participants): Top foreman: Mike Praegitzer. Drivers: 1, Pete McGuire; 2, Rick Connell; 3, Jason Fisher.

District 5 (28 participants): Top foreman: Evan Snow. Drivers: 1, Justin Skinner; 2, Les Bartshci; 3, Scott Trubl.

District 6 (17 participants): Top foreman: Dan Hawkins. Drivers: 1, Corey Finn; 2, Ed Osteraas; 3, Robert Rainsdon; (Troy Stone competed as an alternate, replacing Osteraas).

2007 Statewide Truck Roadeo — Final Ranking
Rank	Driver	Dist.	Points	Rank	Driver	Dist.	Points
1	Robin Freeman	3	3,183	13	Jerry Hiller	3	2,563
2	Mike Praegitzer	4	3,053		Robert Rainsdon	6	2,563
3	Mike Rearden	1	3,003	15	Scott Trubl	5	2,528
4	Frank Allen	2	2,938	16	Martin Meyers	3	2,525
5	Rick Connell	4	2,900	17	Jason Fisher	4	2,493
6	Pete McGuire	4	2,888	18	Justin Skinner	5	2,435
7	Ron Dammon	2	2,768	19	John Richmond	2	2,395
8	Kurt Urbat	1	2,698	20	Les Bartshci	5	2,358
9	Frank Farnsworth	2	2,685	21	Dan Hawkins	6	2,320
	Mike Allen	2	2,685	22	Troy Stone	6	2,310
11	Bob Hutchings	3	2,673	23	Evan Snow	5	2,263
12	Jeff Keicker	1	2,600	24	Corey Finn	6	2,130

2007 Idaho Roadeo — Event Ranking
Snowplow (two-run average)				Loader (two-run average)
Rank	Driver	Dist.	Points	Rank	Driver	Dist.	Points
1	Robin Freeman	3	1,558	1	Robin Freeman	3	1,425
2	Rick Connell	4	1,545	2	Pete McQuire	4	1,340
	Mike Rearden	1	1,545	3	Ron Dammon	2	1,298
4	Kurt Urbat	1	1,533	4	Mike Praegitzer	4	1,278
5	Frank Allen	2	1,528	5	Mike Rearden	1	1,218
6	Mike Praegitzer	4	1,475	6	Frank Allen	2	1,215
7	Frank Farnsworth	2	1,450	7	Scott Trubl	5	1,208
8	Bob Hutchings	3	1,358	8	Jeff Keicker	1	1,188
9	Mike Allen	1	1,353		Mike Allen	1	1,188
10	Ron Dammon	2	1,330	10	Martin Meyers	3	1,170
11	Pete McQuire	4	1,298	11	Robert Rainsdon	6	1,155
12	Jeff Keicker	1	1,273	12	Bob Hutchings	3	1,120
13	Jerry Hiller	3	1,263		Justin Skinner	5	1,120
14	Robert Rainsdon	6	1,258	14	John Richmond	2	1,113
15	Jason Fisher	4	1,253	15	Rick Connell	4	1,105
16	Les Bartschi	5	1,235	16	Kurt Urbat	1	1,070
17	Justin Skinner	5	1,225	17	Jerry Hiller	3	1,050
18	Scott Trubl	5	1,185	18	Frank Farnsworth	2	1,045
19	Martin Meyers	3	1,155	19	Dan Hawkins	6	1,038
20	Dan Hawkins	6	1,133	20	Troy Stone	6	1,003
	John Richmond	2	1,133	21	Jason Fisher	4	995
22	Evan Snow	5	1,130	22	Evan Snow	5	948
23	Troy Stone	6	1,108	23	Les Bartsshci	5	928
24	Corey Finn	6	1,095	24	Corey Finn	6	885