The story of a breast cancer survivor’s pink tractor has gone platinum.
Ron Heemstra restored and painted a John Deere tractor bright pink in honor of his daughter, Kelli Aberson, who went through breast cancer treatment at Sanford Health. Now wherever she drives that tractor, it starts conversations about breast cancer and early detection.
Their story is now a Platinum MarCom Award winner, one of 22 Sanford Health projects recognized in the 2026 MarCom Awards.
MarCom Awards honor excellence in marketing and communication while recognizing the creativity, hard work, and generosity of industry professionals. Each year about 6,000 print and digital entries are submitted from dozens of countries.
Sanford Health garnered honors for work across multiple platforms in 2026. MarCom recognized the following projects and categories this year:
Platinum MarCom Awards
- Denny Sanford leaves legacy in healthcare and beyond (feature article)
- Dad’s pink tractor honors daughter’s cancer journey (medical)
- Family Portraits: Colon cancer sets a new course for family life (medical podcast, single episode)
- Founder’s Crossing (advertising campaign)
- Marshfield Clinic Children’s Primary Care Campaign (advertising campaign)
- 2026 Primary Care SEM Restructure for Rural Health (SEM campaign)
Gold MarCom Awards
- Going Up with Lincoln (marketing)
- Driven to Kindness (medical)
- Kindness across the care journey (corporate image)
- Sanford Heart Month Shirt (T-shirt)
- Edith Sanford Breast Center Campaign (advertising campaign)
- Sanford Orthopedics and Sports Medicine In-Venue Display (animation)
- Sanford Health Plan Medicare Advantage “Do More” Campaign (advertising campaign)
- Founder’s Crossing Website (business to consumer)
- Sanford Health Enterprise Newsletter (healthcare)
- Dr. Schaffer’s Military Promotion (communication plan)
Honorable mentions
- Alan’s New Knee (medical)
- One System, One Mission: Strengthening care in Minnesota (marketing)
- Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Stickers (specialty item)
- Sanford Health Plan New Member Welcome Program (member-facing email and direct mail campaign)
- Here for all. Here for good. Campaign Landing Page (landing page)
- Mission Vision Values Relaunch (internal communication campaign)
“We’re proud of this team for continuing to share how Sanford Health lives out its mission to care, comfort and cure,” said Colette Manning, vice president of brand marketing and operations at Sanford Health. “A memorable experience or a heartfelt story or a fun sticker can add up to make a difference. If we can use that creativity to connect patients to the healthcare they need, we have done our jobs well.”
MarCom is administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. The international organization, founded in 1995, consists of several thousand marketing, communication, advertising, public relations, digital, and web professionals. AMCP administers recognition programs, provides judges, and rewards outstanding achievement and service to the community.
Learn more
- Midwest Emmys honor Sanford Health storytelling
- ‘Grow the Good’ makes an impact on rural health care
- Sanford Health marketing team garners global praise
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Posted In Awards & Recognition, Company News, News, Thought Leadership
