STORY BY KACIE TIMMONS
PHOTOS BY KACIE TIMMONS AND FRANCOIS POTGIETER
Kids of all ages came out to the annual “Go Truck Go!” event on Thursday, September 19th. This event was sponsored by Early Childhood Connections and held at their new complex across from Hays Highschool.
This event provided a hands-on learning experience for kids to get them interested in big machines and what they do. Kids were given the chance to climb inside the large vehicles and equipment.
“Little kids are fascinated with big trucks and we wanted to give them the opportunity to get inside them and see what it looks like,” said Dana Stanton, the Grant Coordinator for Early Childhood Connections.
A school bus, an ambulance, and a trash truck were just a few of the vehicles present. Simpson Farm Enterprises supplied a sprayer and semi, and Carrico Implement brought a John Deere tractor to allow kids the experience of being around agriculture machinery.
Bucket trucks and a digger truck were brought by Midwest Energy Inc., and the City of Hays provided a vacuum truck and a plow truck. Fire trucks and police cars were also present, as well as a Caterpillar grader and scraper supplied by Ellis County Public Works.
Race cars rounded out the lineup. Randy Conrad brought his dirt track race car that raced during the 1960s for kids to climb into. Also, Brandon Pfannenstiel brought his 2013 American Race Cars Dragster.
Different area service providers had tables set up at the entrance with brochures and flyers to give the public more information on what services they supply. Many also had gifts and activities for the kids.
The Tiger Debs team gave kids tiger tattoos, and free food and drink were provided at the park for all that attended.
“This idea started out as having a community-wide event that was geared toward young children and grew from there,” Stanton said.
With so much community support, “Go Truck Go!” will continue to be an event that excites kids and increases their knowledge and imagination every year.