Farmers Day Gator winner announced

Times Reporter

 

One day every year UFA recognizes and celebrates the hardworking men and women who dedicate their lives to farming. During Farmers Day there is also a raffle for people to enter. This year’s raffle was for a new John Deere Gator Utility Vehicle. 

“We had a draw to give away this gator from Farmers Day…so it’s just a prize giveaway for people who put (in) their name and a thank you for being a part of Farmers Day,” said Rudy Nordin, a member experience representative with UFA.

There are 120 agents and 35 farm stores that participate. One winner is picked from across the province and this year Wheatland County resident Robert Bolinger was that lucky winner. 

Bolinger had stopped by UFA on Farmers Day to pick up some farm chemicals for the spring crops. He said things were just starting to get packed up but he and another farmer were encouraged to enter into the draw. Bolinger and his wife Gwen were happy to hear that they had won the raffle, and have already thought of ways to put the Gator to good use. 

“I’ll use it as a utility vehicle on the farm, it looks like it’s really handy, save having to traipse around in the 4×4 or the truck for a lot of things,” said Bolinger. 

“This is really good. If we had cows it’d be really good for calving time, if early spring is cold just throw the calves in the back and take them to where it’s warm. They’re pretty handy for just about anything.”

“We’ll put it to good use. We’ve had a gator since the early ‘90s and they are the handiest little vehicle to have on the farm,” said Gwen. 

The Bolingers said they had been considering replacing their current Gator and Robert said the list price for the Gator they won is approximately $14,800.