10-4 Magazine August 2022

Trucker Talk: By John & Kim Jaikes It makes sense that the “The World’s Best” truck maker would host one of the best shows we have ever been to. On June 18, 2022, the Kenworth factory in Chillicothe, OH put on their first ever invite only Kenworth Truck Show and Parade. This truck show was specifically scheduled to coincide with the company’s Family Fun Day. Jack Schmidtt, Assistant Manager at the Chillicothe Kenworth production plant, was in charge of coordinating this event. The planning started in 2019, and the first show was supposed to be in 2020, but like so many events, the pandemic forced it to be postponed – twice! With the help of longtime friend and retired Kenworth employee Dave Robinson, who contacted his former neighbor Tom Arnold to help get trucks lined up, Jack began planning the event. Many of the trucks they had lined up in the original planning for 2020 stuck with them through the cancellations and rolled into Chillicothe this year, along with many new invitees, totaling about 50 trucks in all. We’ve been to a lot of truck shows, and for this one being a first, we feel they knocked it out of the park! Staging was set up at the Ross County Fairgrounds just outside of Chillicothe, and what a sweet set up that was. Each truck had electric and water hook ups, and the space between the trucks made it easy to get nice pictures and even wash trucks. With no judging and comradery between everyone there, it reminded me of how shows used to be many years ago. Our impression of Chillicothe was that it was hidden gem in the Ohio Valley – and everyone we talked to agreed. With a population of 22,000 residents, it has a beautiful and historic downtown area and a strip of town with a nice variety of restaurants and shopping. With banners on the street light poles all over town featuring Kenworth trucks (one featured a beautiful night shot of John’s truck and trailer) advertising the Saturday night truck parade, Kenworth, and the entire town, really rolled out the red carpet for us truckers and made us all feel like true VIPs. When Tom first started working with the city, he said the people there were so accommodating and wanted to help in any way they could. He wanted to thank Tammy Eallonardo, Michael Throne, and Tiffany Baldwin for all their help. They even set up free tickets to the local outdoor production of the play “Tecumseh!” for any of the drivers who wanted to go on Friday night. The play is celebrating its 50th anniversary and is the pride of the community. Thank you to Melody Young, Executive Director of the Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Center, for getting us tickets. I think there were about 25 drivers who attended the play, and it was a very fun and memorable experience. Being that the event was held in June, in the Midwest, it was hot. On Wednesday night, Clyde and Melody Green ran the reefer on their trailer and bought pizza for everyone there. With chairs set up inside the cool trailer, it was a comfortable place to take a break and do what I jokingly say “truckers do best” – talk and share stories. I couldn’t have been happier to finally get to meet the Greens. Melody is such a delightful woman and I love reading her posts on Facebook about her adventures, and Clyde, you are awesome yourself, and smart for having such a great wife. On Thursday night, John Highley got enough hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, macaroni salad, and potato salad to have a good ole’ trucker style BBQ with everyone welcome. There is a story here I wish I could tell, but I would just like 76 10-4 Magazine / August 2022 THE WORLD’S BEST