As a symbol of strength in the face of adversity, The Survivor Tractor was the anchor of a two-year effort to share survivor stories, increasing awareness and funding for the fight against cancer. In 2018, the mission became even more personal for the New Holland community after one of its employees lost his battle with cancer.
“We always intended to donate the money raised through the New Holland Survivor Tractor efforts to the American Cancer Society”, said Bret Lieberman, Vice President of New Holland North America. “What we didn’t realize was how this cause would hit close to home around the timing [of the end of the campaign]. Our New Holland family recently lost one of our own through a brave fight with lymphoma. His name was Tony Resh. We wish for the money raised during the past year to be accepted by the American Cancer Society in honor and remembrance of him: our colleague and friend, and an incredible man, husband and father.”
New Holland completed its two-year-long Survivor Tractor campaign at the end of 2018 the way it began: with an auction raising awareness and money for cancer research. The tractor was auctioned off for $8,000 to Mr. Joseph “Bubby” Knott, the original donated 9N tractor owner , on Saturday, November 10, at the Mecum Auctions Iowa Premier 2018 in Davenport, Iowa.
Over the course of the campaign, New Holland raised more than $100,000 for the American Cancer Society and localized support organizations identified through participating New Holland dealers. New Holland was honored to build a campaign which raised awareness and connected communities through the fight against cancer and the celebration of survivors.
Watch some of their stories here.
... and The Survivor Tractor lives on.