Tabor bids farewell to 'The Bluejay'
It was a joyous morning for the Tabor College maintenance department as they said goodbye to one piece of equipment and said hello to another.
For approximately 35 years, maintenance has used a homemade utility vehicle, nicknamed "The Bluejay," with an exposed driver's seat, large flotation tires and an open bed for carrying a payload much like that of a pickup truck. The vehicle was used to carry dirt, tree limbs, trash containers and water.
"Since it was homemade, it became more and more difficult to repair things on it over the years, and it finally reached a point where it couldn't be driven because it couldn't be repaired," said Kirby Fadenrecht, vice president for business and finance.
Both Fadenrecht and Terry Pritchett, director of physical plant and maintenance, were on the lookout for a John Deere Gator to replace the current vehicle.
"We would casually visit with the Marion John Deere dealership, watching for used Gators and asking about the prices of new Gators," said Fadenrecht.
The need for such a vehicle inspired a donor to give money to the college with which to begin a fund for a replacement.
As talks continued between Tabor College and Deer Trail Implement Corp., Fadenrecht said he was surprised to learn that the corporate John Deere company had entered into a special pricing agreement with the state of Kansas to offer the Gator at a 29 percent discount to state organizations and public and private schools.
"Thankfully, another set of donors also aware of the need, and now aware of the reduced-price availability, stepped forward to provide the remaining funds for the top-of-the-line 6x4 version equipped with a heavy front suspension and a snow blade for snow removal," said Fadenrecht.
On Dec. 19, Steve Wear, general manager of Deer Trail Implement Corp., delivered the Gator to the maintenance department.
"I am ecstatic about having this here with us," said Pritchett.
