Walcott Truckers Jamboree: Truck fans get a ‘really cool show’

WALCOTT, Iowa – Kayla Wildman was busy waxing the cab of a Demaree Trucking company semi on Friday morning, July 14, at the 44th annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree at the Iowa 80 Truckstop. But the young Indiana woman, who was at the jamboree with her truck driver boyfriend, was looking forward to the end of […]

WALCOTT, Iowa – Kayla Wildman was busy waxing the cab of a Demaree Trucking company semi on Friday morning, July 14, at the 44th annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree at the Iowa 80 Truckstop.

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But the young Indiana woman, who was at the jamboree with her truck driver boyfriend, was looking forward to the end of the day when work was done – particularly, the Friday night fireworks show. “I’m going to sit on top of the truck and watch the light show tonight. It’s going to be really great to see it,” Ms. Wildman said. The Walcott Truckers Jamboree had already attracted thousands of visitors by early Friday, the second day of the jamboree. Event organizers said as many as 50,000 people could attend the three-day show.  Many of those visitors were looking forward to the fireworks, but others wanted to see new and old trucks, listen to live music, or visit the 175 vendors doing business at the event.  “We’ve got a lot to be thankful to professional drivers for,” said Heather DeBaillie, vice president of marketing at the Iowa 80 Truckstop. “Drivers deserve to be celebrated, and we’re happy to host an event that does just that. Professional driving can be a thankless job, but without trucks on the road consumers wouldn’t have food on the table or a variety of other goods we need and use on a daily basis.” In addition to praising the nation’s truckers, Iowa 80 Truck Stop leaders also thanked the many volunteers who helped make the jamboree a reality. “We want to shine a spotlight on those who help make this great event happen. Hundreds of people – from local scout groups to our trusted employees and special volunteers – go above and beyond in the weeks leading up to the Walcott Truckers Jamboree to help get things in order,” Delia Moon Meier, senior vice president of the Iowa 80 Group, said in a news release. Some of the jamboree events that took place Thursday through Sunday included:

• The Super Truck Beauty Contest with more than 90 trophies awarded in 32 categories.
• The country music band Shenandoah was the headline act Friday night. The Grammy Award-winning group is known for hits like “Two Dozen Roses,” “Church on Cumberland Road” and “Next To You, Next To Me.”
• The Trucker Olympics events to test drivers’ skills, strength and speed.
• The Iowa Pork Chop Cookout.
• The Truckers’ Best Friend Pet Contest had categories such as “Best Dressed” and “Best Tricks.”

Several of the truckers and their pet dogs gathered at the Main Stage Friday morning to show off their pets. Among them was Eva Knelsen of London, Ontario, Canada, who was at the pet contest with her 9-year-old dog, Dixie, dressed in a pink tutu for the contest. “She has been with me in the truck since she was seven weeks old. She’s great company,” said Ms. Knelsen. Another pair at the show were Kate Whiting of Chetek, Wisconsin, and her 4-year-old dog Zippy. “He’s my trucking buddy. He comes with me all the time,” she added. Ms. Whiting is a veteran of the jamboree. She is the owner and operator of KW Pony Express LLC, a furniture-hauling business based in Wisconsin. Like in several past years, Ms. Whiting was at the jamboree with her 1973 Kenworth W900A truck called “Cherry Pie.” On Friday, many visitors stopped and looked over the rig and took photos as the classic rock song “Cherry Pie” by the band Warrant played over speakers. For many people at the show, those big rigs were the main attraction. Many of the vehicles were decorated in bright colors and designs and had a message for the crowd.  For instance, Shelli Lichti, founder of a support group for LGBT truck drivers, brought her colorful, rainbow-themed Hirshbach Motor Lines truck called “Rainbow Rider” to this year’s jamboree. (That group is “focused on achieving full equal, equitable, and safe treatment of all members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ community in the trucking industry,” according to the group’s website.) “It’s been going great today. The public response here has been great,” Ms. Lichti said. Other trucks and truckers shared other messages. Some of them included: a truck called “Bryan’s Hope” with a suicide prevention them;  the “Trucking for a Cure” 2021 W900L Kenworth truck with a breast cancer awareness theme; and a truck displaying POW/MIA flags and the American flag with a sign in front of it stating” “We stand for the flag. We kneel for the fallen.” “I like seeing all of these trucks. I really like seeing the vintage stuff they have here,” Pat Sheldon, a jamboree visitor from Illinois said Friday morning as he looked over some of the many vehicles on display. In addition to the trucks, the jamboree was a time to do business. Some 175 vendors were at the Walcott event. They were selling truck parts and accessories, flags, hats, food and much more. And some were trying hard to recruit drivers. “We're trying to get our name out there. … We’re also looking for drivers. We’re 20 to 30 drivers away from having a full fleet,” said Tony Schultz, a driver recruiter with MiniStar Transport of Eagan, Minnesota, who was busy at the jamboree on Friday. Other businesses were teaming up to find customers and employees. For instance, Paully Trotter of Atlanta, Georgia, was at the vendor booth trying to hire drivers for Bennett Motor Express and promote an online gaming site called Truckstopcasino,com. “I’m here trying to gain some players (for trucksstopcasino.com) and get some drivers for Bennett. This is a great event,” Ms. Trotter said. Several visitors to the show said the combination of all the events made the jamboree a success. “It’s been a really awesome, really cool show,” added Ms. Wildman. Jamboree officials have scheduled the 2024 Walcott Truckers Jamboree for July 11-13.