Support for Joy to Life comes from all kinds of people, places and companies. One of the most unique places we’ve received support (and lots of it) comes from Bush Hog—a company that produces heavy duty mowers and cutters based in Selma, Alabama.
Now you may be thinking, why would a mower company support a breast cancer organization? Well, according to Jule Booker with Bush Hog, the partnership makes perfect sense because “early detection and easy access to training and treatment for breast cancer is less available in many rural areas where many of our Bush Hog customers live and work.” Add in the fact that Bush Hog has also had several employees who have experienced breast cancer themselves or had family members with breast cancer, and that solidified the company’s resolve. “That’s why we wanted to do something, but in the beginning, we just weren’t sure what.”
Then, when representatives from Bush Hog visited the Sunbelt Expo in Moultrie, Georgia in 2014, they saw something that would make everything clear. “We noticed another company, Reinke Irrigation, do a promotion for breast cancer fundraising. It was in October, which is breast cancer awareness month.” Jule says that the folks at Bush Hog felt that this type of promotion would be a great tie-in for their company and an opportunity to give back in their home state. The only piece of the puzzle that was missing, was who they should partner with. “We searched for a breast cancer charity that was in our area that was transparent and reached out to Joy To Life in 2014,” she says. “We have partnered with them each year for the past five years and are in our sixth year for our annual ‘Mow Down Breast Cancer’ fundraiser.”
Since partnering with Joy to Life, the message of “Mowing Down Breast Cancer” has reached far and wide thanks to Bush Hog. The company produces a new pink ZT (zero turn) mower each year and displays it at farm shows all over the United States. “It’s great because we get to advertise the Joy to Life cause for breast cancer awareness, detection, and early treatment at all our shows,” says Jule. “Farm show attendees are given a chance to win the pink ZT, by making a donation to the cause. All proceeds go directly to the Joy to Life Foundation.”
The promotion has been extremely successful “In 2018 and 2019, Bush Hog presented the Joy to Life staff with a $10,000 check to continue their great work,” Jule says. “It’s very gratifying to know that we have the chance to help save lives and let lots of people know about the mission of Joy to Life who ordinarily wouldn’t come in contact with the organization. It’s great to work together to continue to ‘Mow Down Breast Cancer’!”