Saturday, June 27 – 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

The Rally Committee and helpers were already at the Lebanon Expo Fairgrounds – organizing the day when we arrived at 9 am. After we each knew our responsibilities – we met in a circle for prayer.

I had two jobs. Take pictures and count trucks. 🙂 Retiring certainly has its perks!

There were already several trucks on the lot. TFC Global only advertised the drive-through chicken barbecue meal, but did encourage drivers to bring their trucks for the meal pick up.

Because of Covid we had to be careful what we planned – not knowing if Lebanon County would be in yellow or green phase by Saturday. (It was the only county in Pennsylvania that was still in the yellow phase on Saturday.)

Peters’ Barbecue arrived at 9:30 am – just like they said they would.

Corby and Vanessa Russell and Randy and Karen Sauder planned the barbecue layout and had two tractor trailer rigs there for “truck rally effect” and to give guidance to the traffic lines. All chicken meal pick up was on the outside of these rigs – at the canopies.

After all the planning, Corby and Vanessa could not even be there because some of their children got sick during the night – running high fevers.

This was my view from the lawn chair where I chose to sit for most of the day. It was good for photos and for helping anyone who was not sure where to go for meal pick up.

Peters’ staff gave our committee instructions for packaging the meals. John Whisler (red shirt) and Terry Calaman were part of our staff and listening to instructions.

A photo from Peters’ showing how the meal should look. The bag of supplies (salt, pepper, napkin, wet wipe and plasticware) in the lid belonged on top of the meal.

One of our meals. The potatoes and chicken were in ice chests. We were told that meals should only be prepared about ten or fifteen minutes ahead of time or as people arrived. The guys kept an eye on the reception canopy and knew when cars would be arriving.

The reception canopy in the driveway. Cerwin (right in gray shirt) and Frank Calaman (left in red shirt) gave a recent copy of Highway News and a donation envelope to everyone and checked if they had or needed tickets. We presold about 480 tickets and had 120 extras for a total of 600 meals. Rose Gehman (pink shirt) and Janae Sauder (blue shirt) sold tickets to those who did not have them.

Fay Sauder and our grandson Jordan coordinated the meal boxes as drivers arrived.

Jordan took meal bags to Wil and Sherry Stoner in one row. (Sherry is partially hidden behind Wil.)

Mark – one of Randy and Karen Sauder’s boys delivered meals to the other line of traffic. Marv Sauder was in the truck and handed boxed meals to Fay.

Curvin and Elaine Weaver served meals to the other line of traffic.

Someone got my attention at the welcome canopy – our granddaughter Diana with our great grandson Bennett.

This was Bennett’s introduction to truck shows.

We didn’t know if we should expect trucks, but were pleased that there were 29 drivers who came to enjoy each other and the chicken barbecue meals. There was also an antique pick up and three antique cars – making a total of 32 vehicles for the rally.

Cerwin giving instructions to our niece Amy.

Giving a Highway News and donation envelope to our son Jeff and daughter-in-law Chris. They came in their old Chevy pickup.

Frank Calaman welcoming a driver with a Highway News and donation envelope.

Just before 11:30 am, the drivers (with John Rissler in the lead) went out on parade. A committee member knew this might happen and checked with local authorities. We were given the okay to do it without the help of fire police.

I think this is John and Karen Rissler’s youngest son. However, I don’t remember his name.

They have the coolest truck. You may remember that we visited their chrome shop last summer on our trip to Utah. They live in California, Missouri.

It was delightful to hear the sound of trucks when they all started their engines at the same time.

Returning from the eight-mile drive.

While watching trucks return, I noticed Marilyn Miller giving guidance to their five drivers as they parked.

Before long I noticed people taking pictures, then knew what she was doing and joined the photographers. Left to right: Brent Miller (owner of Brent Miller Trucking, Allenwood, PA), Marcus Kurtz (who gave me these names), Chad Miller (co-owner and son of Brent and Marilyn), Toby Hurst, and Glen Miller. Marcus said one driver for Brent Miller Trucking was missing.

We heard that some of these families were on the road by 2 am to get to the fairgrounds before the early morning rain. Most of the rain happened before the events started. There were a few sprinkles during the morning, but nothing serious.

When I messaged Marcus to ask if it was true that they were on the road by 2 am, this was his answer: Yes. I drove 5,800 miles in 7½ days just to be home for the show. And didn’t finish up polishing and waxing my truck until midnight. I showered then slept until 2 am and drove down to Lebanon to beat the rain.

One driver told a committee member that the Truck Rally is a highlight for his family. They came even even though it was not a “normal” truck rally.

After the parade of trucks returned, the drivers came to get their meals.

Jeff was not aware that I was capturing this picture. 🙂

Chris babysat Bennett while his parents and their friends ate their meal.

By 2:00 pm all ice chests were empty of chicken and potatoes.

Thank you to everyone: the committee and day helpers, those who bought chicken meals and many who gave generous donations to help raise funds for TFC Global. It appears that we will have raised more than $18,000 (after expenses) which was way beyond our expectations!

Special thanks to Peters’ Barbecue for the delicious meals.

If you want to see a lot more pictures go to my Facebook album https://www.facebook.com/doris.j.high/media_set?set=a.10157395554682322&type=3&__cft__[0]=AZUn9x6YdQGSjIbn4NQ8ZWISA-W6X8EI7EjgzmIQJPQ-WRF7BAn6kYJK_B40uKhrTb2yubUe4PWzjb2tD34XM1eUHJUETDFvVLsu-5sv1ZgivYbSxc2SJf3ILAlF8mHuNOU