A ShowStopping Tribute
At sporting events, images of the flag usually make spectators stand up and cheer. At this year’s Midwest AG Industries Exposition (MAGIE), the image of the flag on one sprayer made attendees stop and stare. This was more than enough to secure the 2nd annual ShowStopper Award for manufacturer GVM and its Troop Tribute Predator 8275 Model.
During the 2007 MAGIE show, CropLife IRON, in conjunction with the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association (IFCA), decided to honor the product at the show that literally “stopped traffic and generated the most show buzz among attendees.” The result, a stop sign-shaped, 7-inch high award, was dubbed “The ShowStopper.”
“A really big show like MAGIE deserves a really big award,” says Eric Sfiligoj, editor of CropLife IRON. “We think this fits the bill nicely.”
At the 2008 MAGIE show, the one product that best exemplified this mantra was the Troop Tribute Predator 8275. Featuring all the same features as a regular Predator, including 50 inches of ground clearance, a QSB 6.7-liter engine capable of 275-hp, and a 1,200-gallon product tank, the Troop Tribute was painted in patriotic colors, with an American flag and Bald Eagle on the engine hood. The front of the unit featured the letters “USA” etched into the metal and the bolts on the tires were in the shape of bullet casings.
“I wanted to do something special to honor our troops who have been serving our country so faithfully overseas,” said GVM Owner Mark Anderson when accepting the award. “But this tribute goes even deeper than that because my niece is currently serving with the Marines over in Iraq. I wanted to honor her contribution to our country’s safety, too.”
“It’s always nice to see our MAGIE exhibitors going out of their way to bring something to the show that is truly special and unique,” says IFCA President Jean Payne. “The Troop Tribute Predator from GVM certainly fit this criteria and we are proud to honor it with this special award.”
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