The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and Stoltzfus Farm Service hosted a propane mower demo day at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa., March 19.

The demonstration was PERC’s award to Cochranville, Pa.-based Stoltzfus, which won it via a drawing at the 2013 GIE+EXPO—equipment dealers who visited PERC’s booth had the opportunity to sign up to win the dealer demo day.

It attracted 35 landscape professionals, who attended to learn about propane’s benefits and try out the latest propane-powered commercial mowers.

“We recently began selling propane mowers, so before the event we were still learning and establishing ourselves in the area,” said Dave Steinhauer of Stoltzfus. “In the few weeks since the event we’ve become the local expert on propane and we’ve seen a lot of interest and received many calls from local contractors and municipalities who want more information or are interested in testing the demo unit for a few days.”

The event opened with educational sessions and a Q-and-A with industry experts followed by lunch and an afternoon of testing equipment. Speakers included Jeremy Wishart, senior programs manager for PERC; Garry Busboom, chief development engineer for Exmark Manufacturing; Brandon Fredricks, associate channel manager for Kohler Engines Group; and Chris Cafarella, sales and marketing manager for Boulden Brothers Propane.

“PERC’s first demo day event was valuable for the dealership and contractors, and we hope it will be a model for similar events in the future,” Wishart said. “With more than 17 OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) offering propane-powered mowers or EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)-certified conversion kits, brand-loyal contractors and OPE (outdoor power equipment) dealers can benefit from propane’s advantages.”