The Wright City R-II School District held their annual “Big Rigs” event at the Wright City Middle School on Saturday, May 11. Families from around the area gathered as all kinds of trucks and other large vehicles were parked at the school. 

The event allows the kids the opportunity to explore some of the larger vehicles as many of them were open for kids to climb up into the driver’s seat. Some vehicles, like the fire trucks, were especially popular. 

There was also a car designed as a Radio Flyer Wagon, a tow truck, several trash trucks and a semi with a tractor in tow. 

For Kaitlin Hanak and her young son Jack, it was their first time at the event. Jack was elated dashing from vehicle to vehicle and climbing up into some like a John Deere tractor at the event. 

“This is right up his alley,” Kaitlin said, as Jack had already moved on to the next truck. 

There was also a significant presence from local first responders including Wright City Police and Fire Departments as well as the ambulance district. 

The National Guard also made an appearance as several guardsmen, including Staff Sergeant Steven Draper and Sergeant Aaron Tan, from the Warrenton Military Police Station had driven a Humvee utility vehicle to the event. 

“We’re always trying to be out here in the community,” Draper said. 

Wright City Aldermen Don Andrews was also in attendance with the trash truck he drives on his daily route. It was his second year at the event and he was glad the kids could come out and have a good time. 

“The kids just love these trucks,” Andrews said. 

Rob Ogden was another parent at the event, he had also taken his tow truck to participate. He thought the event had an additional purpose outside of the fun that kids could have exploring the different vehicles. 

“You’ve gotta expose ‘em to it, so they know what’s out there,” Ogden said. 

He thought that the event could serve not only as a fun weekend activity, but a way for younger kids to explore future career options they may not have otherwise considered. 

“This is the best one so far,” said Sierra Warlen, another parent at the event. 

This year, Big Rigs was also accompanied by a Scholastic Book Sale in the Middle School. Librarian Jani Wilkens said she had been working to bring more book sales back to community events like the one Saturday. 

While she said the sale was buy one, get one free and it was not likely to make any money, she thought exposing the kids to reading materials was more important. 

“It doesn’t make any money, but it gets them books for cheap,” Wilkens said. 

The Big Rigs event was one of the first of a series of end-of-year events that will take place over the next couple weeks as Warren County’s schools close their doors for the summer.