Dust Bowl to dream garden
A Turlock woman is seeking community support to give her enough votes to win a backyard makeover from equipment manufacturer Bobcat Company.
Five finalists have been chosen in the Bobcat Backyard Makeover Contest, and the public is invited to vote on who they think should win the $25,000 prize. The winner will also have the opportunity to meet country music superstar Justin Moore. The finalists were selected based on originality and creativity in their contest entry submission, as well as sharing the impact of how this backyard makeover will empower them to accomplish more.
One of the finalists is Julie from Turlock. According to her submission, Julie survived an accident in 1995 that left her paralyzed as a quadriplegic. She is now wheelchair dependent, and often encounters challenges in maneuvering her backyard.
“I have been stuck, literally spinning my wheels deep, on many occasions in the dirt and thorny vegetation. My wheelchair is also a dust magnet when I drive through the dusty bowl portion of the ‘so-called’ yard,” wrote Julie.
She would like to makeover her backyard to make it wheelchair accessible so she can continue to be outdoors in her garden, which she says helps her forget her mobility limitations.
“I would love to have a completely accessible yard to allow me to finish my dream garden. Being out in the sunshine and enjoying nature’s beauty makes my heart sing,” she wrote.
Voting is open through Aug. 14 at bobcat.com/backyardmakeover. Individuals can vote once per day during the voting period. The winner will work with their local Bobcat dealer to create their dream backyard, and Bobcat will put its equipment to work making the winner’s backyard dreams a reality.
In addition to the backyard makeover, the winner will have the opportunity to meet Moore as he joins the Bobcat team in the renovation project. Moore has been a brand ambassador for Bobcat Company since 2021. As an owner and operator of multiple pieces of Bobcat equipment, including a compact loader and compact tractor, Moore keeps busy on his 80-acre property in Arkansas.