chris spielman, chris spielman wife .chris spielman, chris spielman wife .chris spielman, chris spielman wife Who had ever thought that a manure spreader, and a pink one at that, could ever do more than perform a chore essential to enriching the soil?
Last year, Kay Tracy and Chip Jackson, both of Washington Court House, with the help of Dick Green & Sons, Ltd., of Mt. Sterling, and Pequea Machine, Inc., of New Holland, Pa., proved that a pink manure spreader could do more.
With “The Spreader of Hope,” a 25-bushel capacity pink manure spreader donated by Pequea and Green & Sons, they raised $6,000 for the Stefanie Spielman Breast Cancer Research Foundation at the Ohio State University.
Tracy and Jackson, a show judge and ringmaster, respectively, towed “The Spreader of Hope” approximately 4,000 miles to horse shows around Ohio in 2008. All a person had to do to win the spreader was take a chance, just like Dan Simons, of Amesville, did at the Athens County Fair.
The highlight of Tracy and Jackson’s efforts was “The Saddle Up for a Cure Horse Show” in Circleville. Between the show and the spreader, they raised $13,057.50 for the Spielman foundation.
This year, that same lineup of folks dedicated to helping find a cure for breast cancer is at it again with “The Spreader of Hope II,” and the “Tribute Tough Enough to Wear Pink Rodeo,” Saturday, Sept. 12, and speed and pleasure shows, Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13, at the Clark County Fairgrounds. All proceeds will go to the Spielman foundation earmarked for patient assistance.
This time around, Tracy and Jackson have covered more than 5,500 miles with the spreader in tow to shows at locations that include Scioto Downs, the Kentucky Horse Park, the Ohio Horse Council, Liberty, Jackson, and Greenville among others.
“About the only part of the state that we haven’t been to is up in the northwest,” said Jackson, between shows over a recent breakfast at Ben and Joy’s in Mt. Sterling.
It may take a moment or two to realize it, but there is a bond between the folks involved with the spreaders and the rodeo that fuels their efforts.
Everyone one of them has had a family member or a friend do battle with breast cancer.
Pequea owner Dennis Skibo’s wife, Pam, had a lumpectomy to remove a large precancerous mass from her breast, and her grandmother had undergone a mastectomy.
Kay Tracy lost a cousin and an aunt to breast cancer.
Chip Jackson’s mother also fought a form of cancer.
And one of Dick Green’s employees is also a breast cancer survivor.
It was Dick Green last year who told Tracy that she needed a pink manure spreader to go along with the “Saddle Up for a Cure Horse Show” in Circleville, and that he knew just how to make it happen.Pequea has a national program, launched two years ago, built around 15 manure spreaders exclusively produced and painted in the shade of pink used in national breast cancer awareness programs for the company’s annual “Spread Hope” campaign.Green tossed in a hitch and a trailer and the legend of the pink spreader took off in Central Ohio.
“I was dumfounded,” recalled Tracy, referring to the kindness and help Dick Green provided. “A pink manure spreader.”All she had hoped for when she approached Green & Sons that afternoon was a $100 sponsorship for one of the show classes.
“I couldn’t picture what they were talking about,” said Tracy when Dick and his son Bill started the wheels of the idea turning. “What’s a pink spreader-and I’m a farm girl!”
Although Pequea had reached its limit of 14 pink spreaders by the time Bill Green had contacted them, Dennis Skibo didn’t let that stop him.“I’ll make one more for free,” was his answer.
This year Pequea not only has provided the “Spreader of Hope II,” but also the trailer to haul it.
“That 25-bushel capacity is great for horse people,” said Tracy, of Pequea’s 256 spreader.
While Tribute Equine Nutrition is the show’s title sponsor, Green & Sons and Pequea have gone beyond the spreader and its trailer, and have become two of nine gold sponsors that have anted up $500 or more. Overall 118 businesses and individuals are counted among three classes of event sponsorship and a silent auction that comprise this year’s festivities.“It worked last time,” said Dick Green of his company’s participation in the spreader raffle, “but they’re still a long way from doing what they’re trying to do.”However, he feels that awareness of breast cancer is growing, thanks to the pink spreader.
More and more people say that they saw it at a horse show,” said Green of some of the feedback he has gotten. “They saw the pink spreader.As tough as times are,” said Jackson, “these people have found money for us. Without them, we’re nothing.”Tracy and Jackson have been hauling not only the spreader but also the hope of some day doing in breast cancer.Breast cancer awareness is what we’re selling to the ag community,” said Jackson. “And we have the horse shows to get the word out.The big, big thing overall,” said Tracy, “is awareness.”
Both agree, spreading the word is addictive and inspiring, especially when people who took chances at shows last year come back and join in this year.Anybody could raise money [for a cause],” said Jackson. “But I got stories nobody can take from me.”
One example took place at the Hartford Fairgrounds earlier this summer. Jackson recognized a young fellow from last year had come to the show with his family and his grandmother, Dorothy, who was battling breast cancer at the time.
He recalled that Dorothy wanted to see her grandson compete in the show. As it turned out, she saw him win a blue ribbon, and, in the process, the family purchased 15 tickets in Dorothy’s name for a chance at the spreader.
“My grandma’s doing fine now,” the grateful grandson told Jackson.
“Some people apologize that they can buy only one ticket,” said Tracy. “These are the gutsiest, loving, caring people,” said Jackson of breast cancer survivors. “You don’t know what it’s like, but they’ve been there. These people will steal your heart. If I could choose the people to surround myself with all the time, it would be breast cancer survivors.He said that it’s their outlook on life.They’re grateful and they’re fighters,” he said.
When he’s going through a stressful period when “you get so mad you can’t see straight, then you think about Dorothy or about others you’ve met, and you pull your boots back on and you go,” he said.
Last year’s show in Circleville really got people excited, said Tracy. So much so, that, based on the 650 entries at Circleville, this year’s show would require a larger venue and an additional day.
This year’s show will take place at the Clark County Fairgrounds, 4122 Laybourne Road, Springfield, and will run two days, Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13. in addition to the 35 open classes, there will be a “Survivors Walk Trot” during which anyone who has survived any form of cancer can participate.
As an added feature, a show jacket with a retail value of $1800 exclusively designed and produced for the show by Juhl Clothing of Cincinnati will be chanced off before the start of the special classes.And, the “Spreader of Hope II” will be there too. Tickets for its raffle are $5 a piece or 5 for $20. The lucky winner will be drawn on Sunday after the three special English/Western classes.
We’re not the answer,” said Jackson of the fight against breast cancer. “But we’re carrying the message.
