Pondemonium 2019 was in full swing as we set up shop for a one-day In The Trenches Tour truck stop with landscapers from all over the world and, let me tell you, this event is not one you want to miss if you’re in the water feature business.

Pondemonium is an annual Aquascape Inc. event that features not only opportunities to network with landscapers and influencers from across the globe, but also classroom and hands-on training for all levels of landscapers. (Check out the work of the novice teams this year!)

This year’s theme was “I Love My Job,” and was centered on two key components (besides earning a healthy profit margin on every project you do): having pride in your work and understanding the impact your work has on others. Our Caterpillar team was there to provide equipment support for training sessions, in addition to our In The Trenches Tour Next Generation Cat® Mini Excavator experiences, but we all felt the overwhelming presence of the “I Love My Job” mantra. Here’s why:

Pride In Your Work

First of all, Aqualand (Aquascape’s headquarters, where the event was hosted) is a living testament to this. They truly live it – both inside and out. If you ever have the opportunity to visit, I promise it won’t disappoint. You’ll get a taste of all kinds of water features that Certified Aquascape Contractors (CACs) can install, as well as a feel for the proud and fun-loving culture they’ve built within their team.

Over “in the trenches,” we had the chance to talk to hundreds of experienced operators as they took our Next Generation Cat Mini Excavator challenges. In fact, Tommy J. of Mr. J’s Tree Service holds what I believe will be the fastest time in the Stick Steer competition of 0:57 – prove me wrong! In between the heated competitions, we had some great discussions about what types of equipment are right for the jobs they do, demonstrating proper techniques for things like strapping and lifting large landscaping rocks, when to rent vs. buy, and how new features and technology of Cat equipment will impact not only their productivity and efficiency, but also the quality of their work.

Equipment is a big investment, so it better be giving you a big payoff in the long run. And seeing is believing – it was great to have our machines right there in the thick of the advanced water feature build to really highlight the value of the right machines for specific jobs.