When Keith Ergle, co-owner of Premier Angus Genetics in Phil Campbell, Alabama, registered to attend the 2017 American Angus Association Convention, winning a brand new Cat® 289D Compact Track Loader wasn’t on his conference agenda. But that’s exactly what happened. Ergle was among three other finalists, and the only one with the lucky code to unlock the custom-painted machine.
“When that moment happened and I saw the words ‘Welcome, winner,’ I was pretty stunned,” said Ergle. “And in my mind, I was like, I think I just won this thing!”
A third generation cattle farmer, Ergle’s passion has always been in agriculture. In addition to a full-time job in healthcare, Ergle and his cousin established Premier Angus Genetics in 2012 and have been working around the clock ever since to grow their business. While it’s been on his wish list for a while, purchasing a compact track loader wasn’t a feasible option for the operation. Therefore, winning this one-of-a-kind Cat 289D last year was an absolute game-changer.
Almost a year after Thompson Cat delivered the machine to his farm, we caught up with Ergle to hear how he’s been putting it to work.
“When I won the machine, the whole thing was surreal,” explained Ergle. “But you don’t really know what you have until you get on it. It’s such a powerful machine, with so much torque. It’s definitely made us more efficient.”
As many cattle farmers know, the maintenance tasks never end. Ergle and his cousin are constantly cleaning up fence rows, moving dirt, cleaning out catch pens and the list continues. Before he won the 289D, these chores had to be done manually or with the operation’s tractor—a machine that’s not meant for that type of work. With the track loader and an auger attachment, Ergle has been able to drill fence post holes in no time. Clearing trees to prepare for fence rows used to be a huge headache—using a chainsaw to cut them down, then figuring out a way to clear the stumps. Not anymore.
“This machine is like a mini bulldozer,” said Ergle. “We have literally been pushing up trees and flipping them out of the ground like it’s nothing.”
His son, Miles, was equally excited about the new machine. With a reaction similar to his father’s, Miles was shocked when his grandfather told him his dad won the 289D. Since the machine was delivered and he’s seen it in action, Miles appreciates what a help it’s been on the operation. After watching his father use it to clear fence rows one evening, Miles exclaimed, “Man, that thing is incredible!” Ergle plans to teach Miles how to operate it, so one day, he’ll be able to take over the day-to-day tasks on the farm.
In addition to the machine’s versatility, Ergle has been impressed with the comfort, ease of service and dealer support that completes the package. The air-ride cab seat, suspended undercarriage, backup camera and ergonomic cab controls make it much easier and smoother to operate than other compact loaders he’s used in the past. Maintenance is also a breeze, with easy-to-access service points such as the grease fittings and filter locations. Additionally, Ergle values the new relationship with his dealer, Thompson Cat, and their assistance with any questions he has about the new machine. After experiencing the quality of Cat machinery, Ergle is now in the process of renting more equipment from them.
“There are so many people out there who need equipment,” Ergle said. “We’re really blessed to have Caterpillar and the American Angus Association offer someone the opportunity to benefit from a great machine like this.”
