FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAMAR, COLO. (June 23, 2023) – The Wertz brothers of Love Hay Company in McClave, CO. were recently recognized for their farming enterprise as a finalist for Operation of the Year 2023. The prestigious title will provide the winner of the contest with a new Manitou telehandler free for one year and is sponsored by Parallel Ag (formerly Livingston Machinery Company and Ag Solutions Group) and supported by Manitou Group.
“Our passion for farming truly was bred into us from our dad and our grandpa. It’s in our blood to make things grow. We believe strongly that God has blessed us with the opportunity to steward this land. Not just farm, but to steward the land,” said Caleb Wertz, speaking for himself, as well as his brothers, Mark, Nate, and Thaddeus of Love Hay Company. Having already undergone a nomination phase and a committee-selection process to identify the top three finalists for two divisions (Midwest and Southern Plains), each candidate was given the opportunity to be interviewed on their farm to showcase their operation.
Video interviews will be available during the online contest that will be conducted from July 1st through July 10th. Information regarding the finalists in both divisions, instructions on how to vote, and all full-length interviews can be found at www.parallelag.com/operation
The Wertz family, well-known Bent County natives, must depend on their social media and overall online presence to earn daily votes to accumulate before the contest closes on Monday, July 10th at midnight. The finalists with the most votes at the end of the contest will be awarded with agricultural telescopic forklift, provided by Parallel Ag and Manitou Group. Two machines will be gifted in 2023, one to a finalist in the Midwest region and one in the Southern Plains region.
Farmers and ag leaders, such as the Wertz brothers, are the reason behind Parallel Ag’s development of the program, that is now in its third consecutive year. Headquartered in Chickasha, OK. with 12 locations across six states, the equipment dealership launched the Operation of the Year Awards to honor individuals, families and small ag businesses across the South and Midwestern United States for their exceptional involvement in agriculture.
General nominations for the Operation of the Year program were open to the public in early Spring, accepting self-nominations and recommendations of others. Nominees could be a producer (a farmer/rancher working their own property) or a custom operator (someone who does custom work for others such as harvesting crops with their own machinery). Those entered were assessed on four qualifying categories to become one of three finalists in each of the two divisions: innovation, productivity, legacy, and community service.
After successfully making it through numerous qualifying rounds, Love Hay Company continues to be a strong candidate for the esteemed award of Operation of the Year 2023. However, the Wertz brothers will need support of community members and online followers to ensure final recognition of their hard-earned agricultural efforts and to win the Manitou telehandler. Visit www.parallelag.com/operation to learn more and vote July 1-10th.
REMINDER! Online voting will begin on at 12:00am on July 1st and close at midnight on July 10th. Click HERE to learn more about the contest and prepare to vote when the contest opens. Happy voting!