Ficek Claims Overall Title at 13th Annual Public Works Roadeo

Josh Ficek claimed overall honors in the 13th Annual Snow Fighter Roadeo, winning one event and a co-champ in another.

Ficek, a City of Bismarck heavy equipment operator, posted top marks in the single-axle plow truck course at the October 9 event at the Bismarck Landfill, while sharing high marks with Jared Shwab in the motor grader category. Ben Goss won the loader competition. City of Bismarck heavy equipment operators made it a clean sweep on the day, winning every event.

The Roadeo is an annual opportunity for heavy equipment operators from the cities of Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln Public Works Departments, as well as Burleigh and Morton County departments, to show off operating skills and try new equipment available in the field, according to the City of Bismarck's Roads and Streets Crew Lead, Chad Schiermeister.

"On one hand, it is really a day in which all the operators can have some good-natured competition," said Schiermeister. "But it is also an opportunity to get into that equipment we use during our snow removal process. Operators can knock the rust off a bit in a consequence-free environment and get reacclimated to equipment before we're staring down the barrel of a significant snow event."

Each competition consists of a hands-on operational test using basic skills to maneuver equipment through a timed obstacle course. Scores are impacted by not hitting a metal arm or specific item, or by hitting a variety of cones placed throughout the courses.