In 2022, Mark Sitwell of West Winfield, NY, had a close call on his tractor that could have taken his life. While baling hay, the heavy wagon came crashing into his baler, pushing him and his tractor down the hill at a fast speed. He kept calm and was luckily able to stop and turn his tractor safely. The Ford 6600 tractor did not have a rollbar; had it flipped, Mark could have been seriously injured or even killed. This event prompted Mark to call Clinton Tractor in Clinton, NY, who then referred him to the National ROPS Rebate Program through NYCAMH. Within five days of the incident, a rollbar for Mark’s tractor was ordered and was installed in October. “This is a godsend to many farmers who would not be able to afford this safety feature without the help of the ROPS program. We cannot thank you and this great program enough,” wrote Mark and his wife, Kim.
Mark Sitwell (right) and ROPS Hotline Coordinator Duane Martin (left) in front of Mark’s newly installed ROPS on his Ford 6600.
