Touch a Truck event welcomes more than 1,500
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 27, 2017 1:45 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Danny Daniels holds his grandson Anderson, 5, so that he can get a better look at the Wayne County Sheriff's Office helicopter Saturday during the Touch a Truck Event at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Rylei Besanceney, 2, gets a closer look at one of the dinosaur skeleton displays made by Benton and Sons Saturday at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.
Christopher Franz, 8, inched his way toward the sleek black race car near the entrance of the fairgrounds Saturday morning.
"I want to get in that," he said excitedly.
The experience of spending just a few minutes behind the wheel did not disappoint.
"That was cool," he said as he reunited with his group.
Riannon Murray was the adult in charge, squiring around seven children for the "Touch a Truck" event sponsored by the Partnership for Children of Wayne County.
Others in her party included Abdullah Ishaq, 7, and his younger brother, Usman Ishaq, 5.
Usman, decked out in a black ninja suit with red accents, was intrigued by the airplane and train, while Jimmy Vanhoet, 6, was captivated elsewhere.
"Two bouncy houses," he said. "Actually three."
There was plenty to see, with nearly 80 options spread out around the track of the fairgrounds.
Fire trucks. Law enforcement and emergency vehicles. Tow trucks, campers and Jeeps.
The WATCH mobile van.
A garbage truck. A bus. And a helicopter from UNC Hospitals.
And all of them were touchable.
That was the purpose of the day, said Valerie Wallace, assistant executive director at the Partnership
Similar ideas have been used at events around the state, she said, prompting the local version, a fundraiser to support the Partnership's programs.
"It's been a great event," she said. "I think it's going to be a big event -- something we expect to grow next year.
"How many times have you seen a garbage truck down the road but have you ever been up close? Or to a crane?"
Ricky Lamm, 62, of Wilson, was having as much fun as anyone.
"When I first came in I was impressed with the Cat truck," he said. "I have always been impressed with Caterpillar -- I think they build good stuff."
He appreciated getting to go inside a 200-ton truck and seeing the instrument panel inside.
Eli Hudler, 1 1/2, wearing Spiderman sneakers and a miniature back pack, was simply taking it all in.
"He's obsessed with tractors, trucks, anything that goes," said his mom, Ashley Hudler.
"He's a little overwhelmed. He wants to look but he watched from a safe distance.
Brody Jennette, 2, is also a huge fan of tractors, said his parents, Samantha and Jason.
"He got in the sewer truck from the city," Samantha said. "He loves trying to drive. I guess it's just a boy's fascination."
Their older daughters, holding yellow plastic hard hats handed out by Daniels and Daniels Construction, also had their favorite.
Caroline, 9, liked the race car, while Delilah, 6, said she was "hoping to see a camper."
Allie Ellis, 4, sat in the driver's seat of a Spyder, excited when she discovered it belonged to Kris Brewer, wearing a "Girls on Spyders" cap.
"I have been riding about six years. Basically, we like to take day trips, but have also been to Lake George (N.Y.) and Tennessee," she said of herself and her husband, Jim.
"Can you take me on a ride with you?" Allie asked.
"You could ride behind her," Allie's mom, Amanda Ellis, said, pointing to the additional seat in the back.
The event was not just for little ones, though.
Friends Jonathan Hall, Trae Roa and Jonathan Cardoza, all 14, were brought by their football coach -- Hall and Cardoza play at Southern Wayne, while Roa is a student at Spring Creek High.
They said their favorite parts of the event were the SWAT vehicle, with Roa noted he also saw "a lot of Jeeps" and for Cardoza, the firetrucks and race cars got his vote.
Dr. James Stackhouse walked around with daughter-in-law, Beth Stackhouse, and grandchildren, 3 1/2-year-old twins Will and Mary Wynne.
Will liked the WATCH mobile, while his sister was a fan of the fire trucks and thought "that dump truck was interesting," their mother said. They might have been on the younger side, but that could all change if the event is brought back, she said.
"One more year and they'll be all over it," she said.
The first hour of the four-hour event was a "no noise" time, for those with sensitivities to that.
Come 11 a.m., though, sirens and horns and every bell and whistle attached to the vehicles could be heard.
Andy Lauterbach brought his wife, Ashley, 2-year-old son Coleman, and 8-week-old baby June.
"It's really cool," he said. "It's an opportunity to do something all four of us together can enjoy and of course he (Coleman) gets to see things he doesn't get to see up close.
"I just enjoyed seeing him enjoy it."
Ashley said it was a great opportunity for Coleman to see other vehicles besides the ones on their LaGrange farm.
"He likes touching the buttons and grabbing the steering wheel," his dad said.
"This is our first family outing (since the baby was born)," his wife added. "We have been itching to get out."
When all was said and done, it was a wonderful day, said Charlie Ivey, Partnership executive director .
"Positive results all the way around -- a lot of good compliments from parents and grandparents, smiles from the kids, that made it worthwhile," he said.
The turnout was beyond expectations, he added.
"We gave out of the 1,200 armbands early," he said. "And of course, those under 2 were free, so I'd estimate a minimum of 1,500, probably closer to 1,600 to 1,700, a tremendous crowd."