Baked-in UPF/UVF? Check. Flip-up sun collar? Check. Breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics? Check and check. With the longer, warmer days of summer upon us, Duluth Trading Company, the national workwear retailer, introduces the gotta-have UPF and sun protective clothing that will keep women safe from the harshest of steamy outdoor elements – including the sun’s harmful rays. Go ahead, make your dermatologist proud! 

From the sun-shielding Crusher Hat, to the sweat-busting Long Sleeve Action Shirt, to the skin-saving Garden Pants, Duluth Trading Company has the sun protection hats, shirts and bottoms to safeguard  skin – no matter what the outdoor chore.

“Whether digging in the garden or simply mowing the lawn, Duluth knows that women spend a significant amount of time working outdoors in the summer and that means serious exposure to the sun,” says Stephanie Pugliese, president and chief merchandising officer, Duluth Trading Company. “With the help of Duluth Real Women testers and models, we’ve been able to design outdoor workwear with built-in sun safety features to ensure that women can do what they love – better, longer and more safely.”

To check out all of Duluth’s sun protective gear, check out Duluth Trading Women. 

For more information about how to stay ‘sun-safe’ this summer, watch “Sun Protection Tips of the Trade” featuring Duluth Trading Real Woman Model and sustainable farmer Rebecca Claypool. Claypool shares her tips of the trade on how to manage the risks of working outside.

Sun Protective Gear From Duluth Trading Company:

Crusher Hat/Item #40502/$29.50
You can't afford to be caught in the sun without a hat, so our Crusher has UPF 50+ protection built-in to shield sensitive skin as well as an extra wide brim to keep you shaded from harmful rays. And, the Crusher always looks presentable when you pull it out and put it on because the flexible brim and crown are constructed to bounce back to their original shape no matter how long they’ve been squished. Plus, mesh sides keep you cool on sun-drenched days.100 percent of users would recommend the Crusher to friends. 

Long Sleeve Action Shirt/ Item #43301/$49.50
This Action Shirt has everything you need on hot jobs. Built-in sun protection, lightweight moisture-wicking fabric and an easy-moving bi-swing back. Itsdurable ripstop CoolPlus® polyester wicks away perspiration 6x faster than cotton, while built-in UPF 50+ helps filter harmful rays. A flip-up sun collar shades your neck; discreet back mesh vents circulate fresh air behind the bi-swing back. Plus, the shirttail hem keeps you covered while bending, sitting or crouching. Not to mention, 100 percent of users would recommend the action shirt to friends. 

Short Sleeve Longtail Crew/Item # 82508/$18.50
Trendy tees in the big box stores may be cheap, but their wimpy fabrics and careless construction just can’t stand up to our quality. Duluth Longtails are made of a soft rib knit that won’t stretch or sag out of shape – and they have UPF 35+ protection built-in to block harmful rays. The Longtail Crew Tee is a full two inches longer than an ordinary tee to stay tucked and keep you covered when you bend, reach or sit. With 97 percent for users recommending them to friends, it’s easy to see why women prefer Longtails to the competition!

Garden Pants / Item # 46104 / $49.50
Bend, squat, kneel and tiptoe through the tulips this spring in our new Garden Pants. Designed for freedom of movement, these hardworking pants feature a crotch gusset, elasticized adjustable waist and internal kneepads to get the job done in comfort. Pant hems are also elasticized so they stay put in mucky boots. Handy pockets keep cell phones, keys and cash secure. Soft cotton/nylon blend fabric stays cool in the hot sun with an addedUPF 50 protection. With 100 percent approval rating, what’s not to love! (Kneepad Inserts sold separately. Item # 35536 / $6.50.)

Utility Vest/Item #51009/$59.50
Thanks to a whopping dozen pockets, the Duluth Trading Utility Vest is like an extra set of hands leaving your hands free to do other things. This hard-working vest also has a built-in sun collar and UPF 50+ sun protection. Another handy detail? A large back mesh panel, which works to keep you cool and circulate air during long, hot days. Plus, the two-way front zip unzips from the bottom to make bending, crouching and sitting easier. And, the material is so lightweight, you'll forget you're wearing it! 97 percent of users recommend the Utility Vest. 

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

PheasantsForever has named Rose Corby of Haysville, Kansas, as the organization’s first-ever Youth Education Coordinator in the state. Corby will be working with the 40 Pheasants Forever chapters and 11 Quail Forever chapters in the state, as well as other conservation organizations, to recruit and increase youth participation in upland hunting and other outdoor activities. 

Funding for the new position was made possible by a collective effort that included Kansas Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Pass It On! Outdoor Mentors, and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

“We are excited to create this special partnership in Kansas,” says Cheryl Riley, vice president of education and outreach at Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “Rose will be instrumental in bringing together conservation organizations throughout Kansas to involve young people from diverse backgrounds in a wide variety of outdoor activities. Only by getting families engaged can we hope to develop the next generation of conservationists.”

Corby has been active in the Kansas Hunter Education Program for 12 years, and she was named the 2010 “Kansas Hunter Education Instructor of the Year.” She organized instructor workshops and hunter education classes and was successful in establishing accredited Hunter Education Instructor courses at Wichita State University and Kansas State University. 

“I am looking forward to increasing the number of youths participating in existing outdoor events and through the collaboration of the various organizations involved we can expect to see a tremendous growth not only in attendance of our youths but the number of events available throughout the state of Kansas,” says Rose Corby, “It is through programs such as ‘Pass It On’, ‘No Child Left Indoors’, and the Leopold Education Project that we can provide excellent opportunities to educate our youths about the value of nature and the role that sportsmen play in conserving our wildlife and their natural habitat.”

Corby is a recent graduate of Wichita State University. She will be working from her home in Haysville and can be contacted at (316) 209-8118 or Email Rose.

Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 130,000 members and 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent, the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure.

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

The red dot design award is a well-known international design prize awarded by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Essen, Germany. Founded in 1955 the jury now gets about 14.000 submissions from 70 countries annually, making it the biggest product design competition in the world. This year the Husqvarna Group – the world’s largest producer of outdoor power products including chainsaws, trimmers, lawn mowers and garden tractors – was awarded a total of nine different product awards.
”We are very honoured to recieve a recognition of this magnitude. It shows that our central focus on esthetics and function truly resonates throughout the organization and is appreciated on a global scale,” says Towe Ressman, Vice President Global Design at Husqvarna Group.

The announcement by the red dot jury means that all three of the Husqvarna Group’s global premium brands have been awarded the red dot design award: Husqvarna, McCulloch and Gardena. Each submitted product has been rated on criteria such as innovation, functionality, self-explanatory quality and environmental compatibility. ”All of our premium brands have a leading position within their respective market segments, which these nine awards certainly prove,” says Towe Ressman.

The most notable prize, ”red dot: best of the best”, was awarded to the Husqvarna Battery Rider –
a title given to a mere 1.37 per cent of the submitted entries. The grand award ceremony will be held at a gala event in Essen, Germany on July 2nd.

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase.
 

 Billy Boots is pleased to announce expanded distribution of the amazing Cruiser, a lightweight, molded, pull-on boot that runs circles around any other work or farm boot on the market. Molded from lightweight EVA resin, the Cruiser has no seams to leak and no buckles to fail. At just 2.1 pounds per pair, Cruisers are virtual featherweights compared to other boots in their class, yet are tough enough to stand up to challenges like rebar wire ties that can shred ordinary PVC boots.

The Cruiser’s EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) construction is the key to its outstanding performance. The EVA closed-cell polymer used in Cruisers is completely waterproof. It is flexible for comfort, yet tough enough for factory, farm, or construction work even in the harshest conditions. EVA resists stress-cracking and UV radiation and has little or no odor. It provides excellent shock absorption and, due to the trapped air in it’s closed cell structure, insulates against cold, even at sub-zero temperatures. And the beefy molded-in lug sole helps prevent slips and falls in environment from work site to stockyard.

“EVA is the ideal material for this kind of boot,” says Billy Boots National Sales Manager Justin Greenhalgh. “Unlike constructed boots, EVA is molded in a single unit, eliminating seams that can leak or come apart. Unlike one-piece PVC boots, which contains lead, chlorine, and other toxins, EVA is environmentally friendly. It resists 98 percent of chemical compounds, and nothing sticks to it. Materials like mud, animal waste, and concrete that can cling to other boot materials just fall right off the EVA surface. So not only are the boots themselves lighter, but you aren’t lifting that caked on matter with every step. By the end of a workday that’s a lot of lifting eliminated. And because nothing sticks to EVA, cleanup’s easier too.”

Inside the Cruiser’s one-piece EVA shell are an ASTM-compliant composite toecap for safety and a contoured insole for comfort and arch support. And while they are easy on your feet, Cruisers are rugged enough to outlast several pairs of ordinary PVC boots, and are very affordable. For your toughest jobs—in scorching heat or bitter cold, wet or dry, nothing protects like Cruisers. For foot-friendly, eco-friendly, work boots made with pride in the U.S.A., ask your distributor for Billy Boots Cruisers, or find them on our website at www.billybootsusa.com.

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

Southeastern Equipment Company is pleased to announce that the company now offers Kubota construction equipment at its Indianapolis location. The equipment line includes excavators, compact track loaders, loader backhoes, and wheel loaders.

Parts and service for all models are also available, and a diverse selection of equipment is on hand to rent.

“We are excited to bring Kubota’s construction line to our Indianapolis market,” says Charlie Patterson, president of Southeastern Equipment Company. “Not only is the company known for manufacturing quality construction equipment, but they are also recognized as an environmentally conscious manufacturer.”

The Kubota construction line features 14 excavator models with operating weights ranging from 2,200 lb. to 19,489 lb. Additionally, there are four loader backhoe models available with operating weights from 4,001 lb. to 8,344.5 lb. Kubota also offers two compact track loaders with operating weights at 9,039 lb. and 11,023 lb. and two wheel loader models with standard bucket capacities of .5 yd3 and .75 yd3.

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

The Land Pride RC40 Series 15' Rotary Cutter features a 15' cutting width, 3.5" cutting capacity and a blade tip speed of 16,300 fpm. This new folding rotary cutter incorporates the gearboxes from our RC5615 and the sturdy, dependable deck design from our RC3615. The rugged, heavy-duty gearboxes are capable of handling demanding cutting applications while the smooth-top deck allows for easy cleaning. The RC4015 is a solid, medium-duty cutter in a long line of quality folding cutters from Land Pride.

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

Over 200 Vermont cheeses will be the centerpiece of the 4th annual Vermont Cheesemakers’ Festival at Shelburne Farms this summer, along with dozens of specialty foods, fine wines and locally-crafted beer. The sell-out event is slated for Sunday, July 22, 2012.

More than 40 Vermont cheesemakers will showcase their products at the festival, sampling and selling hundreds of different cheeses. Artisan bread makers and small-batch chocolatiers are among the 20 specialty food producers that will join the cheesemakers, along with 20 Vermont wineries and breweries offering local and organic microbrews, ice wine, and award winning cold-climate wines.

“Cheesemaking in Vermont has grown from a cottage industry with a few well-known brands to a vital piece of our agricultural fabric,” said Rachel Schaal of the Vermont Cheese Council. “In fact, Vermont has the highest number of cheesemakers per capita. That, along with the fact that Vermont cheeses continually bring home the gold from national and international competitions, has earned us the reputation as the Napa Valley of cheese.”

New for 2012 will be a “How Cheese Works” seminar with Zoe Brickley from the Cellars at Jasper Hill and Taylor Cocalis, co-founder of Good Food Jobs. Brickley and Cocalis will explore the basic science of cheesemaking from pasture to market. Sean Buchanan of Farmplate and Alice Feiring, author of Naked Wine, Letting Grapes Do What Comes Naturally, will lead the popular Wine & Cheese Pairing seminar.

The Festival will also feature two free demonstrations, a Cooking Show with Nina Lesser-Goldsmith of Healthy Living Market and a Cheesemaking Demonstration with Peter Dixon, owner of Westminister Artisan Cheesemaking.

The 4th annual Vermont Cheesemakers’ Festival is presented by the Vermont Cheese Council. Admission is $40 per person, or $50 with wine and beer tasting. Seminars are $45 per person and seating is limited.  For additional information and ticket reservations please visit www.vtcheesefest.com or call 802-863-5966. Early registration is strongly recommended as the Festival typically sells out well in advance.

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

A new company in Bloomington, Indiana calling itself the Garden Tower Project has created a revolutionary vertical container garden called the Garden Tower. Unlike any other container garden, the Garden Tower generates its own organic fertilizer with kitchen scraps thrown into a central “vermicomposting” tube, and grows fifty-plus plants in a four square food area.

With their Garden Tower they hope to open up gardening possibilities--and thus increased food security--for urban gardeners, community food programs, people living in “food deserts,” and anyone who wishes to boost their own gardening output easily and affordably. A socially responsible company with a mission, the Garden Tower Project is committed to locally-grown, sustainable, and organic food production.

The Garden Tower’s great innovation is the central vermicomposting tube. Vermicomposting, the creation of organic, nutrient-rich worm compost, occurs within this tube continuously as the gardener throws in plant material kitchen scraps (worms are added to the Tower when it is first planted). The tube runs the length of the 3 foot body and has 40 holes that allow the worms to travel freely throughout the Tower, distributing castings and aerating the soil.

According to Garden Tower inventor Colin Cudmore, this feature, along with several other design features, allows for rapid, healthy, and abundant growth. Vegetables, flowers, and herbs grow readily in the Tower, with little maintenance and no external inputs such as electricity or special nutrient solutions, such as are typically found in hydroponic systems.

Cudmore, Master Gardeners, and novice gardeners in the Bloomington area have been testing the Garden Tower prototype for two years, with impressive results. Says Advanced Master Gardener Michael Simmons, "I planted a fall garden in 2011 in two prototypes of the Garden Tower. Crops included kale, collards, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, arugula, leaf lettuces, chives, garlic chives, sage, marjoram, and parsley. The results were astounding. In March, I still have kale, collards, and herbs that overwintered in the units and continue to flourish.

The Garden Tower Project’s next step is to raise the considerable sum needed to make injection molds for mass production of the Tower. Hoping to bypass the Wall St./big bank nexus, they have gone on Kickstarter to present their project directly to those who will be most interested in the Garden Tower and who will want to support them financially. According to Cudmore, this will allow the company to maintain the greatest control of its business practices and remain committed to its mission of bringing the Tower to as many people who need it, as affordably as possible.

The terracotta-colored, next-generation model is a big improvement on a prototype that already works wonderfully, says co-founder Joel Grant. It will be rotatable to allow equal access to light on all sides, and will have an easy-to-use removable catch basin that allows the gardener to collect run-off “compost tea” and worm castings to return to the system. The Tower’s simplicity, ease-of-use, and self-replenishing design are distinctive qualities of the Tower, says Grant. “Anybody can use this--beginning gardeners, seniors, children, those with physical restrictions—it’s really that easy. Once you have the soil, worms, and plants in there, you just water and watch it grow.”

The Garden Tower Project is currently on Kickstarter until June 18. Patrons can pledge any amount, but to receive a new generation Tower later this summer the pledge rate is $245, which includes shipping. Cudmore says he is talking to several Indiana plastics manufacturing plants to be sure that production is up and running as soon as possible. He also stresses that the plastic used is food-grade, and that he is looking at plant-based plastics to minimize the Tower’s carbon footprint.

In all, it’s an impressive product with an already impressive track record. The next generation model will be a fine addition to porches, balconies, and rooftops everywhere, and, more importantly, could really make a difference to the diets of those in gardening-challenged areas. The website, www.gardentowerproject, also does an impressive job of presenting the product, the mission, and the story of the Garden Tower Project.

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

Born out of the necessity to remove leaves from the lawn and the unavailability of a proper, efficient method to do so, LeafCat’s high capacity, universal leaf collecting system eliminates the arduous task of raking up leaves with a rake and wheelbarrow.

Easily attached to any lawn tractor, the LeafCat bagging system greatly reduces the time spent bagging leaves with the conventional riding lawn tractor’s grass catching attachments which lack capacity and require very frequent stops to empty the small collection bags. The high capacity cage allows for high volume leaf collection, minimizing collection tube blockage and allowing you to cover more area with fewer stops and starts.

The LeafCat (MSRP starting at $533.99) creates valuable time saving solutions for every issue posed by collecting leaves, allowing for more time on the golf course, tennis court, hiking, biking, riding in a convertible or more importantly with family.

LeafCat offers its convenient, time-saving Universal Leaf Bagging System via www.LeafCat.com. For more information about the company and its products, contact LeafCat at info@leafcat.com or Avalon Communications at stephen@avalonprgroup.com. 

LeafCat’s Unique Features Include: 

• Large capacity for fewer stops and starts, saving valuable time.  
• Open mesh design improves air flow and reduces feed tube blockage  
• Dust shield protects the operator from dust and small debris   
• Collapsible Design for easy storage, which saves space  
• Quick disconnect which easily converts tractor for other uses 
• Universal design allows the LeafCat to works with most lawn tractors  

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

As a teacher and agricultural consultant, Ray Hankes has always had the gift for engaging audiences with a well-told story. Now he shares stories he has told to his own grandchildren in “Grandpa Ray’s Adventure Stories for Children” (ISBN 1456490370).

Over the course of 10 stories, children will go from laughing to being frightened silly and back to laughing again. The stories take children to the great outdoors, where they meet a wild cast of characters.

Young readers will be rapt as:

• Two birds work to build their nest in a barn while on the lookout for a preying cat;
• A squirrel shares his love for red gummy bears that threatens to change his life forever;
• A one-eared mule in California shares his adventures with children.

While his stories are full of crazy, fun adventures and friendly animals, Hankes subtly weaves in important lessons in every tale.

“For untold generations, storytelling has been a way of passing on family values, creative ideas and information about the environment,” says Hankes. “When a grandparent takes on the role of storyteller, there is a valuable opportunity to share the gifts of laughter and joy—and sneak in some life lessons, too.”

Hankes hopes his stories entertain and prepare young readers for the adventures of life that await them as they grow older. He believes his work shows that even in the toughest of storms, we can all persevere with a hope, ingenuity and a big scoop of love.

“Grandpa Ray’s Adventure Stories for Children” is available for sale online at Amazon.com and in select additional venues.

About Ray Hankes 

The oldest of eight children, Ray Hankes has never lost his playful, childhood spirit. You can find him on the floor playing with children or serving as the local nature expert with the neighborhood children using his doctorate in animal science. Hankes has worked in many industries, including agriculture, farming, education and the pork and meat industries, but he has always had a knack for sharing adventurous stories with children. He and his wife, Ellen, have two grown children and two grandchildren with another on the way. Visit Ray at http://www.amazon.com/Grandpa-Rays-Adventure-Stories-Children.

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

LOCAL, a non-profit eatery featuring a colorful and unique menu of salads, sandwiches, pizzas and more, is scheduled to open May 19th. Unique in its concept and operation, LOCAL will support both area farmers in offering locally grown food and local charities by donating 100% of its profits each month to their cause. The Manhattan restaurant will be located in Plaza West at 3011 Anderson Avenue, next to Max Fitness, the same property currently held by Ingredient. Ingredient will be closing after May 13th.

The first of its kind in the nation, LOCAL will open as a non-profit restaurant committed to donating back 100% of its profits to the local community. By partnering with a new organization each month, LOCAL will be able to work alongside a variety of charitable programs and foundations within the community and donate profits directly to their cause. Over the course of a year, ten local charitable organizations will be selected to receive monthly profits from LOCAL. In the two remaining months, one in the spring and one in the fall, LOCAL will work with area schools and youth organizations that can sign up to receive a percentage of the sales for one evening.

LOCAL has secured a two-acre farm less than one half mile from the restaurant where fresh fruits and vegetables are grown to be incorporated into the menu. In addition to offering Kansas-fed beef, LOCAL will also depend upon area food vendors to provide the freshest ingredients that Manhattan and Kansas regional farmers have to offer. This unique set of offerings will provide for a more specialized and streamlined menu from that previously offered by Ingredient.

“I am excited to bring the new concept of LOCAL to Manhattan because it’s important for all of us to re-invest in our community,” Dave Dreiling, owner of LOCAL, explains. “This restaurant is our way of giving back and offering a way for fellow community members to learn more about important local charities and to provide support.”

To assist in selecting the local charitable organizations featured each month, LOCAL is establishing an advisory board to serve as its non-profit selection committee. Organizations interested in requesting an application for consideration can email Kari Krier at kari.krier@igtm.com or call 785.537.8822 ext 1234 or go online at www.LocalFoodandFriends.com.

“We are very honored to have been chosen to be the first charity to receive 100% of the monthly profits by LOCAL,” Maribeth Kieffer, Executive Director, Flint Hills Breadbasket, explains. “In the last ten months the Breadbasket has served over 10,157 more individuals compared to a year ago. As you can see, our need has increased significantly. We are very thankful for the support of LOCAL.”

LOCAL has embraced a design highlighting the familiar scenes of the Manhattan community and surrounding areas. From the city streets of Manhattan to the tallgrass prairies of the Flint Hills, the photos and décor match the unique flavor of the local community. The newly re-designed restaurant will offer a robust breakfast menu and will be open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Catering for everything from business lunches to casual events, including breakfasts, can be ordered through Adam Magette of HCI Hospitality at 785.341.4010.

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

Farmers and ranchers from throughout the United States and Canada have visited Hawaii with YMT Vacations (YMT) every January since 1975.  A major U.S. tour operator, YMT started specializing in Hawaii in 1967 and in 1975 moved their first farm group to the islands (the Fulton County Farm Bureau in Ohio).

Since then, YMT has set aside every January to include sightseeing of particular interest to farmers and ranchers on their most popular Hawaiian vacation, the two-week, four-island, fully escorted Hawaiian Kings Tour.

This popular vacation package, designed for the first time visitor, includes sightseeing of all the major highlights on the four main Hawaiian Islands.  Besides escorted sightseeing, travelers will spend nights in hotels on the islands of Oahu, staying on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu; Maui; Kauai; and on the “Big Island” of Hawaii in the villages of Hilo and Kailua-Kona.

Agricultural industry sightseeing includes a visit to the Ludgate family owned Steel Grass Farm on Kauai, featuring commercially grown bamboo, vanilla, Tahitian lime, papyrus and cacao. On Maui, visitors will tour the Maui Gold Pineapple Plantation and processing facility and on Hawaii, sightseeing includes an orchid nursery, and the Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation.

A major sightseeing highlight near the Kona Coast on Hawaii, is a visit to the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii, a research facility of ocean thermal energy conversion.  Both warm surface and cold-deep seawater is brought together to generate electricity.  One will see how “Aquaculture” has flourished as a byproduct.  Nearby, sixty tons of algae are grown each week as feed for abalone at the Big Island Abalone Farm.

Other sightseeing includes Pearl Harbor; the USS Arizona Memorial; Wailua riverboat cruise; the old whaling village of Lahaina, Maui; Volcanoes National Park; Rainbow Water Falls; and a Macadamia Nut factory tour.

Included are 14 night’s hotel accommodations, roundtrip and inter-island airfare, airport transfers, to your room baggage handling, sightseeing, and the services of professional Polynesian tour guides.

Additional information can be obtained by calling YMT Vacations, located in Michigan, at 1-800-736-7300.

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

The Grasshopper Company – manufacturer of commercial zero-turn riding mowers – announces a new online tool designed to calculate fuel costs and impacts of commercial mowing equipment. With the mowing season in full swing and fuel prices averaging close to $4.00 per gallon nationwide, landscape contractors and maintenance supervisors are struggling to keep fuel expenses from eating into their budgets.

The Fuel and Emissions Calculator – available at grasshopperfuelsavings.com – presents visitors with fuel costs and savings comparisons, greenhouse and smog-forming gas emissions per hour of mowing, and overall profitability comparisons for each of the three most popular fuel choices for commercial mowers: gasoline, propane and diesel.

The result is a robust tool that provides a comprehensive analysis of the impacts each fuel type has on budgets and the environment.

Ruthanne Stucky, executive vice president and marketing director, says Grasshopper developed the calculator since no tool of its kind existed to compare fuel expenses as well as to how to reduce fuel emissions for commercial mowers.

“Our industry is greatly influenced by fuel prices, so this calculator will be the essential tool for determining fuel costs,” Stucky says. “And, as stewards of the land, we also need to be aware of the environmental impact of our equipment. This new tool does both accurately and conveniently.”

Due to the volatile nature of fuel prices, the calculator is designed for individual customization which allows users to revisit the program and calculate new totals any time prices fluctuate.

Grasshopper is committed to helping landscaping professionals make informed decisions about fuel consumption and sustainable lawn care practices. To learn more visit grasshopperfuelsavings.com.

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

Precise trimming, superior user comfort, outstanding durability and efficiency, plus the freedom of cordless technology -- you’ll find all these attributes in Toro’s two new lithium ion cordless hedge trimmers.

New Cordless Hedge Trimmers  

The Toro^® model 51494 cordless hedge trimmer is packed with power and convenience. The 20V* Max lithium ion battery has up to twice the power per weight of a less-efficient nickel cadmium battery. The on-board LED charge meter on the rapid charger displays battery status, and the battery is equipped with LED status indicator lights, so you’ll always know the amount of power on hand.

This new hedge trimmer features a work grip handle that rotates 90 degrees for unmatched comfort during vertical cutting. The trimmer’s long, 22-inch cutting bar gives you extended reach and superior durability, while the dual-action cutting system reduces vibration and fatigue. Designed to take on branches up to 9/16 inches thick, this cordless model weighs in at just over 7 pounds and has a suggested retail price of $139.99.

For bigger trimming jobs, turn to Toro cordless 24V** Max model 51496. Loaded with all the great features of the smaller cordless trimmer, this machine increases reach and power with a 24-inch hardened polished steel cutting bar and a 24V Max lithium-ion battery. This trimmer weighs in at 6 pounds 10 ounces and can take on branches up to 5/8-inch in diameter. It has a suggested retail price of $159.99.

New Corded Hedge Trimmer  

The lightweight, ergonomic design of the Toro corded hedge trimmer makes quick work of even the toughest branches up to 9/16-inch thick. Model 51490 shares the cordless hedge trimmer’s long, 22-inch cutting bar and dual-action cutting system to extend reach and reduce fatigue. The standard cord lock prevents accidental unplugging. Toro’s new, corded hedge trimmer has a suggested retail price of $59.99.

Look for all three Toro hedge trimmers at hardware stores and select The Home Depot^® stores this spring. For more information contact Toro toll free at 1-888-384-9939 or visit us on the web at toro.com. 

*Battery manufacturer rating = 20V maximum & 18V nominal. Actual voltage varies with load.

**Battery manufacturer rating = 24V maximum & 22.2V nominal. Actual voltage varies with load.

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

Your Voice Was Heard! 

Thanks in large part to the thousands of KeepAmericaFishing™ angler advocates who voiced their support, on April 17, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012 (H.R. 4089). This monumental legislation will, among other things, block ongoing, unjustified efforts by anti-fishing groups to ban lead fishing tackle and improve angler access to federal lands.

Why is the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act so Important? 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been petitioned by anti-fishing groups three times in the last 18 months to ban lead fishing tackle and/or ammunition based on a provision in the Toxic Substance Control Act. Time after time the EPA has ruled that the petitioners did not demonstrate that such a ban is “necessary to protect against an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment.” The House-passed provision supports and reinforces the EPA's numerous decisions. The petitioners' continuing efforts, through petitions and lawsuits, demonstrate a clear need for this legislative solution.

The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act also contains several provisions addressing other concerns important to sportsmen and women. Among those is angler and hunter access to federal lands. With expanding land development and growing regulations restricting angler access, federally owned lands are more important than ever for recreational fishing opportunity. The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act promotes increased and more consistent access for fishing and hunting on federal public lands by directing public managers to facilitate recreational fishing and hunting on public lands and waters through their agencies’ land management plans.

KeepAmericaFishing thanks the thousands of anglers who supported this important bill, and will be calling on anglers soon to help ensure similar legislation clears the Senate.

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

 
B&W’s latest product, the GradeBoss™, is light enough to pull with your ATV, yet heavy enough to fix your driveway. The reason for designing this work tool was two-fold:

1. To repurpose the gravel already in your driveway eliminating the need to purchase new gravel every time you grade it.
2. To make grading your driveway a no hassle job for anyone that can operate an ATV, UTV, Lawn or Compact Tractor.

Plus, its versatile design allows for multiple uses. Grade, smooth, level, prep, scarify and scrap all with one implement that attaches to an ATV in minutes. It also comes with a remote controlled actuator that precisely raises and lowers the blade without stopping to adjust. Put your ATV to work!

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

DR® Power Equipment today introduced the DR Versa-Trailer ½-Ton, a smaller, more economical version of the company’s popular commercial utility dump trailer designed for light duty hauling on properties of all sizes.

In the short time since its introduction, the original DR Versa-Trailer has changed the way people think about utility trailers, garnering remarkable praise and excitement from consumers. But some who want a rugged ATV dump trailer do not need the commercial carrying capacity and lifting ability of the large Versa-Trailer. For these property owners, DR Power Equipment now offers the simplified Versa-Trailer ½-Ton utility trailer.

“You could call this new trailer the Versa-Trailer’s little brother, but it certainly holds its own,” said Michael Johnston, DR Power Product Manager. “Like the larger trailer, the ½-Ton model is fully galvanized. And it can handle loads to up to one thousand pounds.”

On top of its all-steel, galvanized construction, the new utility trailer features removable end panels for carrying long loads such as lumber. The panels can be removed in seconds, without the use of tools. The trailer also comes standard with a pivoting hitch which allows the trailer and its towing vehicle to ride independently without putting torque on the tongue or hitch.

The trailer’s large, 22” diameter wheels equipped and high ground clearance allow users to take the Versa-Trailer ½-Ton anywhere they can drive their ATV, UTV, or compact tractor. And unlike some poly or wooden ATV trailers and dump carts, the Versa-Trailer ½-Ton was designed with a pivot point near the middle of the bed, allowing the trailer to achieve an impressive 35 degree dump angle for easy, clean dumping.

Cast axle attachment points give the Versa-Trailer ½-Ton a foundation that is much stronger than the thin, bent sheet metal construction commonly found on other ATV dump wagons and carts. Steel guards also protect the knobby tires’ valves from rocks, roots, and stumps.

The trailer’s carrying capacity is 1000 lbs.

Optional features include a winch; extension side walls for carrying bulky materials like leaves and mulch; and a jack stand for raising and lowering the trailer’s tongue.

The DR Versa-Trailer ½-Ton starts at a $999 list price, but introductory offers, including free shipping on most orders, make this innovative dump trailer even more affordable. The trailer can be purchased at drpower.com/versa-trailer.

DR® Power Equipment, a division of Country Home Products, Inc., the premiere developer and marketer of professional-grade outdoor equipment for residential use, was founded in 1985 in Charlotte, Vermont.  Today it occupies three facilities and employs 220 people. For more information on its complete line of power equipment and home care supplies, visit the web site at www.drpower.com.

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

Gentlemen, start your tractors! Husqvarna, the world’s largest producer of outdoor power products, has teamed up with the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Lowes and five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion, Jimmie Johnson, to launch a new riding mower – the Husqvarna Fast Tractor -- that speeds through yard work, leaving consumers with more time to spend doing the things they love. It’s the fastest tractor in its class, reaching speeds of 7-8 mph.

“The Fast Tractor is designed to fit the needs of consumers who demand all-around high performance and high quality,” says John Marchionda, vice president of marketing for Husqvarna. “Consumers want the peace of mind that comes with knowing they are making a good investment. We’ve created a quality product that allows you to mow through yard work with precision and comfort – and the Fast Tractor reduces time spent mowing, which frees up valuable time to spend doing other things you really enjoy!”

The Fast Tractor is so fast it now has a role in a popular racing-themed video game. Working with Autumn Games and their hit racing franchise, Jimmie Johnson’s Anything With An Engine, Husqvarna developed “Husky Hank”, a downloadable character who can be raced in the game against other in-game personalities.

Husqvarna officially launched the Fast Tractor during a special event at the NASCAR Hall of Fame viewing party for the Texas Sprint Cup Series race; there, attendees were able to play Anything with an Engine and see the Fast Tractor first hand.

With its ergonomic design features and heavy-duty functionality, the Husqvarna Fast Tractor combines power and performance to create a more enjoyable mowing experience. The Fast Tractor comes standard with a 24hp Kohler engine, 20” rear tires, F7 hydrostatic transmission, 48” reinforced cutting deck, and has comfort features such as a high-back seat with armrests, push/pull button blade engagement and an ergonomically-designed user interface. A safety switch under the seat automatically stops the engine and cutting deck when the driver leaves the seat and the Reverse Operating System allows users to mow while the mower is in reverse with the turn of a key.

Husqvarna stands behind the durability of the Fast Tractor, offering:

• 10-year limited warranty on the reinforced deck
• 5-year limited warranty on the frame, chassis and front axle
• 3-year limited warranty on the transmission
• 3-year limited warranty on other non–expendable components
• 1-year limited warranty on the battery

The Husqvarna Fast Tractor is available exclusively at Lowe’s and Authorized Husqvarna Dealers nationwide for USD $1,899.95. To learn more, visit www.HusqvarnaFastTractor.com.

Join the conversation by “liking” Husqvarna on Facebook (www.facebook.com/HusqvarnaUSA) and by following Husqvarna on Twitter (www.twitter.com/HusqvarnaUSA).

Husqvarna is offering consumers the chance to win a free Fast Tractor with the Husqvarna Mowing Mix Facebook promotion, where participants are asked to share the top five songs that get them amped up for yard work. The contest is currently open at www.facebook.com/HusqvarnaUSA. The final Mowing Mix and contest winner will be announced on May 26.

* Husqvarna Fast Tractor Speed Claim: Fastest riding mower in its class defined as the fastest yard tractor based on published speeds on manufacturer and retailer websites for lawn tractors of major manufacturers with retail prices below $2,500 in the US.  The speed of operation will affect the quality of moving.  OPERATE SAFELY: Always operate at speeds no faster than safely permitted by conditions. 

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

Alamo Group Inc. and Alo today jointly announced a major new manufacturing and distribution alliance for their tractor loader businesses in North America. 
 
Recognized as the largest loader manufacturer in the world, Alo has been producing and marketing loaders and attachments under the Quicke brand in North America since 1989. Alamo Group Inc. is the world market leader in rotary cutters and related tractor attachments and manufactures and sells tractor loaders through their network of over 2,500 Bush Hog, Rhino, and SMC dealers.  
 
“Growth in the loader business requires serious commitment and investment in order to keep pace with the design, quality, and cycle time requirements of a fast changing marketplace” said Rick Pummell, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Alamo’s Ag businesses. “This new alliance between the two strongest players in this market will pay great dividends in product selection and reliable distribution for our dealers and their customers .”
 
Loaders for the joint initiative will be manufactured in Alo facilities, including Telford, Tennessee, a former Bush Hog plant acquired by Alo in 2009 prior to Bush Hog becoming a part of Alamo Group. Under the new alliance the sales organizations of Bush Hog and Rhino will be the representatives for Quicke brand loaders in the United States.
 
“This alliance is the next step in Alo’s continued growth in North America”, said Urban Hadarsson, Sales & Marketing Director Alo AB. “Alo’s manufacturing and product leadership is an excellent fit with Alamo Group’s strong market position and distribution network in the USA.”
 
Consolidation of both production and sales activities is already underway and scheduled to be fully in place from July 01, 2012.  Dealers should continue to contact their respective Bush Hog, Rhino, or Alo sales and marketing organizations for assistance during the transition.

This press release is presented without editing for your information. GRIT does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase.