10-4 Magazine October 2024

10-4 Magazine / October 2024 69 Stanley, a big stuffed gorilla, greeted everyone who entered the Community Center (AKA the Command Center). Every year, Lola Milner would make sure he was spor ting that year’s shir t, and people would make sure they got their picture with Stanley. This year there was even a picture with a K9 from the Fond du Lac Sheriff K9 unit sitting next to Stanley. There was a bid of $1,200 for Stanley, and he was promptly given to the Duey Vande Zande family. In 1997, The First Annual Trucker Buddy Share America Convoy depar ted from Waupun at 8:00 AM on Sunday morning. The convoy made stops along the way and ended up in Reno, NV. Gary King star ted the Trucker Buddy program in 1992 to pair drivers with classes across America (drivers sent postcards to their classes and the students wrote letters to their Trucker Buddy). In 1998 and 1999, the second and third Trucker Buddy convoys star ted their journey after the Waupun Truckers Jamboree. In 2005, the name of the show was changed to the Waupun Truck-N-Show. In 2008, the Truck Rodz rig lit up the night parade with flames coming out of the stacks! In 2009, our friend Alex Debogorski of Ice Road Truckers fame, was a big celebrity hit at the show. In 2021, when everything was shut down for Covid, the Waupun Truck-N-Show went on! Many people were so happy to be able to get out of the house and attend the event that year. Every truck at the show this year was a winner, and they were all par t of something very special. The Mayor’s Choice was Brian Pete, the Ron Vande Zande Memorial Trophy went to Gary Geib, the Bernie Werra Memorial Trophy went to Austin Gottman with Chuck Brauer Trucking, the Largest Fleet was BRT Services, and the Kid’s Choice, a new award last year, had two winners this year – the Schiender family chose the American themed dump truck from the Soper Co. and driver Darryl Kulepp, and the Kor th family chose Josh Van Wagoner as their favorite. I had the fun of driving these families around the grounds on a golf car t and watching as the kids struggled to make their final decisions. The Best of Show Working Show Truck this year went to John Herdrich of Herdrich Express. John was at this show on Saturday in 2013 when he got the news that his dad Jim Herdrich has passed away. Jim was John’s hero, and the loss was totally devastating. John works hard and takes pride in the truck he drives, keeping it top notch every day, to honor the man who taught him so much more than just driving a truck. This year it was on Saturday, again, when he was bidding for a top spot in the parade, just like he did on that day 11 years ago. Over the years, John has bid on multiple spots for the parade and given them to either his drivers or friends. Best of Show Antique went to Josh Van Wagoner and his cool 1996 black and magenta Peterbilt pulling a matching spread-axle reefer. It had always been a dream of Josh’s to win Best of Show at Waupun, and being the last year for the show, made it extra special. Best of Show in the Show Truck class was hands down Dane Har tman of Har tman Farms and his “American Dream” truck! The detail on this black Peterbilt, built by Dickerson Custom Trucks, was amazing. The Best of Show in the DOT Standard Lights class went to Brian Ernshoff of Dabney Trucking, while the Modified Lights class was won by Dane Har tman of Har tman Farms with his dancing red, white, and blue lights. Best of Show Working Truck went to Always Haulin’ Auto Transpor t. This show has always been known for giving out hundreds of trophies, and this year was no different! But after the last trophy was handed out and the trucks all left, the grounds of the Waupun Community Center returned to just bare grass with a stream flowing peacefully along its edge. A cement truck planter was placed in front of the Community Center in 2014 with a plaque telling everyone this was the home of the Waupun Truck-N-Show. Nancy Kutschenreuter, Duey Vande Zande, and Lola Milner went there