'Off the Rails' ride qualifies 24 finalists chance to win new riding lawn mower

BRIDGEPORT - Like the gas tank on a John Deere S220 lawn tractor was filled to the rim, a 10P utility cart was filled to the point of overflowing with ice cold water for Wednesday's "Off the Rails" mower ride in Bridgeport.

With a shiver in his lips Flood Communications Account Executive Cooper White, in a bathing suit and cutoff shirt, tapped his toes in the water before slowly slipping in and settling in the water-filled cart for an over three-and-a-half hour journey on a cloudy, 85-degree day south on Highway 385. 

It's the fourth year radio station, 987 The Big Boy, hosted the lawn mower giveaway. Listeners were challenged throughout the summer to guess how far they thought the mower would go on one tank of gas, with the top guesses getting the chance to compete for the mower in an obstacle course. 

Morning show host Hunter Arterburn piloted the 42-inch riding lawn mower at 4-5 mph on the shoulder of the highway with a convoy that included Nebraska State Trooper Travis Ahrendt, Kye Draper from 21st Century Equipment, and employees from The Big Boy Chris Gutierrez, Jay Allen, Marva Ellwanger, Forrest Hershberger, Keifer Mitchell and Kim Christensen. 

People in Forman, North Dakota to Lincoln, Nebraska submitted guess from 0 miles to 268 miles. The lawn tractor dripped its final drop of gas 14.8 miles south of Bridgeport, just miles from the Morrill-Cheyenne County border. 

Nearly 800 people submitted their predictions, but only one person - Eric Rummel, of Chappell - was able to hit the exact mileage. He made his guess at the Chappell Golf Course. 

Rummel, whose prediction will not go unrewarded, will be joined by 23 other people competing in a "mow off" on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 21st Century Equipment in Sidney. The public is encouraged to attend from 5-7 p.m. to see who has the fastest time in the obstacle course with the Logan County Fair & Rodeo, Sutton Home Gallery and The Rusty Bucket Pub & Grub. Food from Jimmy L's Barbecue and Catering will be available for purchase.

2024 OFF THE RAILS FINALISTS