"We came to the reunion because it sounded like a great idea and we wanted to see the factory," relates long-time Iowa Walker users Chuck and Dana Rosacker. "I put my business on blocks for two days to be here," adds Connecticut based Ed Cook. 'I wanted to show my support for the Walker family and wish them the best of luck in the coming years."
Owner/operator Linda Harris purchased her first Walker in 1988. She came from Ohio to attend the reunion and tie in a nice vacation to Colorado, as well. "This is really a beautiful state," she remarks. 'I really wanted to see the factory, too, and did I forget to mention they're giving away two Walker Mowers?"
The Walker Mower Family Reunion, held August 11 and 12, attracted 1,700 people from 39 state and 14 countries. In addition to the mower giveaway, attendees were treated to a number of highlights, including taking part in the 50,000th mower celebration on Friday.
Viktor Huss of Neftenbach, Switzerland, won the drawing to drive the mower off the assembly line. In doing so, he was also reimbursed for his trip to Fort Collins.
At the afternoon driving ceremony, Walker Mfg. also recognized four pioneers who introduced the Walker Mower to various parts of North America and the world. John G. Stead (Wagga Wagga, NSW Australia), Percy E. Schneider (Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada), Sven Gillfors (Malmo, Sweden), and Robert "Bob" D. Oestreich (Port Washington, New York), were all recognized.
More than 200 attendees also took part in the Walker Precision Obstacle Course to see who would be crowned the Best Walker Operator in the World. Nathan Reiser of K&D Landscape in Arvada, Colorado, took home the honors by besting Sam Stoltzfus (Peoria, Arizona) and Gary Bailey (Winterset, Iowa) by 1.5 and 3 seconds respectively. For winning, Reiser took home a $100 Walker Ware gift certificate and $1,000 credit on his next Walker Mower, along with a trophy.
Other events included the supplier door prize program and the Walker Mower giveaway, supplier displays, talent shows, Walker Mfg. Timeline and hot air balloon rides.
The All-Nations flag raising was one of the highlights of Saturday morning; that evening the closing ceremony was capped off with a 20-minute slide show and magnificent fireworks display. Sandwiched in between were Kohler Engines World Famous Brat Fry, Walker Mowers Family Photo and an entertainment stage that was kept busy for nearly the entire picnic, closing with the cowboy poet Baxter Black.
"This is more than just a celebration for our company. It is a celebration of the people from all over the world who believe in this product and have made the production of 50,000 mowers possible," Walker Mfg. president Bob Walker told attendees.
"We believe that setting goals and celebrating reaching them is a way to energize the human spirit. This event give us an opportunity to be with our family - our suppliers, factory employees, sale and service network, and end-users - to share common ideals and identify with a product that really has impacted all our lives."
The reunion was held 20 years after the decision was made to build Walker's first 25 machines and less than 10 years after the company celebrated the production of its 10,000th mower in 1991.
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