Most backhoes are dirty from digging in wet soil and tracking through mud, but not the one being displayed by Titan Machinery at the North Dakota State Fair. The manly machine is pink. That's right, a pink backhoe. No foolin'.
Shawn Tague, general manager of Titan Machinery of Minot, was aware of the pink backhoe and thought it would be a good fit for the State Fair.
It stands out. No question about that.
Article Photos
Kim Fundingsland/MDN • Michael Steier, Minot, left, Shawn Tague, Minot, center, and Scott Geisler, Minot, have joined “The Case Crusaders” for the duration of the North Dakota State Fair. The pink backhoe can be found at the Titan Machinery display at machinery row on the north side of the fairgrounds.
The highly unusual backhoe came to Minot following a very successful appearance at the Iowa State Fair.
"It travels around the country for special events. There's been some really successful events with it so, hopefully, the one here will turn out good for us," said Tague.
The colorful backhoe is made by Case and carries the banner for "The Case Crusaders".
"We'll have a bunch of pink t-shirts out here that say "Digging for a Cure," said Tague. "All the proceeds we'll donate to the local cancer center here in Minot. Titan Machinery will match it. I'm hoping it costs us a lot."
The pink backhoe will not be hard to find for fairgoers. It's the only pink one at the fair and anchors one end of machinery row at the north side of the fairgrounds. While the unusually colored machine is certain to attract attention to the Titan Machinery display, Tague says he had other inspiration for bringing the pink backhoe to the fairgrounds.
"My mom was battling breast cancer and she just got a clean bill of health last week, finished radiation," said Tague. "You don't realize how many people have it until it touches a loved one. I thought it would be kind of cool to have this at the State Fair."
In addition to the pink backhoe to heighten awareness of the need to find a cure for breast cancer, Titan Machinery will have bean bag toss games and an inflatable bouncy house for kids. Their latest lines of machinery and riding lawn mowers will also be on display.
Participation at the State Fair is nothing new for Titan Machinery. Titan has donated numerous pieces of equipment for use during the fair, including tractors to pull people, buggys servicing the parking lots and UTV's being used in the horse barns. However, the pink backhoe is a first for Titan and the State Fair.