Big rigs arrived in California for an even bigger cause.
On May 14, 130 semi trucks entered the area to be a part of the second Crossroads Truck Meet. Around 40 vendors and more than 5,000 people attended the truck show. Attendees enjoyed bounce houses, prize drawings, peddle pulls and coloring contests.
According to Crossroads Shopping Plaza co-owner and truck meet organizer Delton Rissler, proceeds from this year's truck meet will be donated to the non-profit organization, Wonderland Camp.
Delton, his brother John and their wives, Ashley and Karen, own and operate the Crossroads Shopping Plaza as well as the businesses within it. Working together with his family, Rissler created the Crossroads Truck Meet as an open house event for their new facility last year.
Rissler said following the first meet's success, many people asked when the next event was going to take place. However, having no open house, the Rissler family wanted to make an event like this about something more than trucking.
From there they created a plan to partner with Wonderland Camp as it allows for children and adults with disabilities to participate in various camping activities and games. Money raised through events such as a silent auction and voting on favorite trucks will be given to the camp.
The event is partnering with the Missouri Muleskinners' Truck and Tractor Pull at the Jefferson City Fairgrounds to raise money for Wonderland Camp. The day concluded with the meet's Convoy for Camp as truckers drove to Jefferson City.
Rissler estimated at least $2,000 would be raised for Wonderland Camp. Although considering the large attendance at each event, he is confident there will be so much more they can offer when he connects with the organization.
"We had a really good turnout, so I expect it to be a good effort," Rissler said. "I think it's going to be a good number once we get together and finalize everything."
He said it was a great effort put on by the community. Along with Delton's companies, "Diesel Power Plus, Edge Sizing Graphics and the Dairy Barn Ice Cream Shop" and John's company "Horse and Buggy Accessories, there were many local vendors who came in support of the event.
Xtreme Body and Paint, Frank Boys Trucking and Landscaping, LLC, Bias Lawn Care, Wallis Companies, Al Sheppers Motor Company, Sunbelt Rentals, Superior Insulation, Dollar General, Commerce Bank, Hawthorn Bank, Capital and many more local businesses sponsored the event. Some of the larger businesses who sponsored the event also include Houg Built, Dynaflex Products, Trux Accessories, Grand General Accessories and Burn Clean Products.
He said the second annual Crossroads Truck Meet received a lot of support from everyone throughout the community. From businesses to volunteers, the event proved to be something really special as it brought in a lot of fun for a good cause.
"I love to bring recognition to those (businesses) because they're part of it," Rissler said. "And then the whole community ... all the spectators that came in to support (us) and all the volunteers we had (we'd like to highlight them). We had probably 50 volunteers...there were just so many things that we did inside this event that they took care of."