This PT Rodeo has become one of our all-time favorite company activities. What’s better than having more than 3,000 of our employees compete with such enthusiasm to do a better job?
Ken Butler, President, Aaron’s Sales and Lease Ownership

Above: The 2005 PT Rodeo Dream Team. More than just bragging rights are at stake in this year's PT Rodeo. The winner will receive a 61” DLP Television set, his name painted on the side of his/her delivery truck, an all-expense paid trip to Aaron’s National Manager Meeting to be held next year in Orlando, a return trip next year to Talladega for the Aaron’s Dream Weekend, and the coveted PT Rodeo Winner’s Cup Trophy. Aaron's employees are a highly competitive group. Thousands gathered recently in Nashville for the company's annual conference (see story).

Aaron Rents' (RNT)  fourth annual Product Technician Rodeo will be held in conjunction with Aaron’s Dream Weekend April 28 - 30 at Talladega Superspeedway. See finalists below.

Aaron’s Sales and Lease Ownership Training Department hosts the PT Rodeo to demonstrate and reward the vital role that product technicians play within the company. Product technicians are the employees on the front line who deliver merchandise, make service calls and ensure customers are satisfied with the household items they lease.

Atlanta Falcon RB Warrick Dunn (Left) with a member of "The Dream Team"

Aaron’s Sales and Lease Ownership President Ken Butler says recognizing and rewarding employees at every position within the company is what sets Aaron’s apart. “This PT Rodeo has become one of our all-time favorite company activities. What’s better than having more than 3,000 of our employees compete with such enthusiasm to do a better job? There will be a winner crowned in Talladega this weekend but the real winners are Aaron’s customers who benefit from the most highly trained and motivated product technicians anywhere.”

Former PT Rodeo Champion Tim Robbins starting the race. Tim is back to compete again this year.

The competition is the only one of its kind within the lease-purchase industry, and it begins each January when more than 3,000 product technicians descend on 126 different locations to compete in tasks such as loading and unloading a truck, driving quickly and accurately through an obstacle course and completing a written exam on Aaron’s product, service and repair knowledge. One winner at each of the 126 sites advances to a semifinal round held at twenty locations around the country.

One finalist from each of the twenty locations advances to the annual PT Rodeo with an all-expense paid trip to Talladega to compete and enjoy the weekend’s NASCAR festivities. This year’s group of twenty contestants includes two previous PT Rodeo champions and three contestants making return trips as finalists on what Aaron’s calls their “PT Dream Team”.

More than just bragging rights are at stake in the PT Rodeo. The winner will receive a 61” DLP Television set, his name painted on the side of his or her delivery truck, an all-expense paid trip to Aaron’s National Manager Meeting to be held next year in Orlando, a return trip next year to Talladega for the Aaron’s Dream Weekend, and the coveted PT Rodeo Winner’s Cup Trophy. The champion will also wave the green flag as Honorary Starter for Sunday’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race - the Aaron’s 499. He will also have the chance to rub elbows with several NASCAR drivers and actor Will Ferrell, Grand Marshal for the Aaron’s 499 and star of the upcoming movie “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”.

To be crowned champion of the PT Rodeo, the contestant must receive the highest score in a total of six categories testing the finalists’ mental and physical abilities. They will take a timed test on their knowledge of Aaron’s merchandise and business practices. They will have to complete a crossword puzzle involving Aaron’s knowledge. They must successfully navigate a driving course in a cube truck involving three point turns, parallel parking and avoiding obstacles. Finally, they will compete in their own unique Aaron’s 312 race - an interactive videogame challenge where finalists test their driving skills on a console game unit while stopping every three laps to compete a timed task related to the daily responsibilities of a product technician.

All twenty contestants will participate in the parade lap at Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race which will be broadcast live on FOX at 1:30pm Eastern time.