The Iowa 80 Truckstop earlier this month celebrated its 45th Walcott Truckers Jamboree, celebrating truck drivers and the importance of trucking with a full schedule of events. Live concerts, more than 150 exhibits, the Super Truck Beauty Contest, an antique truck display, Iowa pork chop cook out, and more.
An estimated 53,400-plus people were in attendance during the event. Visitors came from all over the United States and Canada, including two Canadian provinces and states as far away as Arizona, South Carolina, Texas, and California.
The Iowa 80 Truckstop has been celebrating America’s professional drivers through the Walcott Truckers Jamboree since 1979.
According to Delia Moon Meier, Senior Vice President and second-generation owner of the Iowa 80 Truckstop, the Jamboree started “during deregulation, so there were almost no new trucks on the road. If a new truck drove by or pulled up to the fuel islands, everyone would run outside and look at it. My dad got with the local truck dealers and asked them to bring some new trucks out to display during our appreciation event.”
She added that her “dad had some antique trucks and his friends had some antique trucks, so they showed them off. It was unique. We had new trucks and antique trucks and Iowa pork chops. And that’s how the event started.”
Meier credited the staff at truck stop and the Iowa 80 Kitchen for the success of the event, and thanked everyone for hard work and dedication to making the event fun for everyone.
Both Thursday and Friday night of the show ended with live concerts and a fireworks display, a truck light show, and perfect weather this year. 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the truck stop itself, and was celebrated with a cake from Charm City Cakes based in Baltimore, Maryland.
Next year’s Walcott Truckers Jamboree will be held July 10-12, 2025.
2024 Super Truck Beauty Contest winners
Working Truck: Cabover
1st: Matt Schleuger, Wesley, Iowa -- 1993 Kenworth K100E, “Not Daddy’s Money”
3rd: Cody Short, Greenfield, Mississippi -- 1994 Freightliner and 1999 Utility
Working Truck: Company Truck, Bobtail
1st: Andrew Worth, Winnipeg, Manitoba -- 2024 Kenworth W900, “Almost Lucky”
2nd: David Sanchez, Swan, Iowa -- 2024 Peterbilt 389, “Puerto Rican Paradise”
3rd: Andy Mulkey, Van Buren, Michigan -- 2024 Kenworth T880, “A Family Obsession”
Working Truck: Company Truck, Combo
1st: Brandon Myher, Pendleton, Texas -- 2023 Peterbilt 579 and 2019 Reitnouer, “Fancy”
2nd: Luke Oligschlaeger, Meta, Missouri -- 2020 Kenworth W900 and a 2023 Great Dane
3rd: Dennis Durand, Winnipeg, Manitoba -- 2020 Kenworth W900B and a 2020 Tremean
Working Truck: Specialty
Dan Horst, Lowell, Wisconsin -- 2019 Kenworth W900, “Big Blue”
Rat Rod
Tim Feidt of Maplewood, Minnesota -- 1984 Mack RB, “Major Attitude”
Working Truck: 2021-’24 Bobtail Conventional
1st: Brenda Osterkamp, Wyoming, Michigan -- 2022 Peterbilt 567
3rd: Gage Lykum, Davenport, Iowa -- 2022 Freightliner Cascadia, “The Highlighter”
Working Truck: 2014-’20 Bobtail Conventional
1st: Duane Hostetler, Wooster, Ohio -- 2015 Peterbilt 389, “Foxy Roxy”
Working Truck: 2006-’13 Bobtail Conventional
1st: Fredrick "Fritz" Littlefield, Forest Lake, Minnesota -- 2006 Peterbilt 379, “Money Pit”
Working Truck: 2000-’05 Bobtail Conventional
1st: Mike Brown, Taylorville, Illinois -- 2005 Peterbilt 379
3rd: James Weverka, Octavia, Nebraska -- 2005 Kenworth W900L, “Hercules”
Working Truck: 1999 & Older Bobtail Conventional
1st: Raiko Graveran, Orlando, Florida -- 1995 Freightliner FLD120, “Little Blue”
3rd: Aaron Copeland, Taylorville, Illinois -- 1981 Kenworth W900
Working Truck: 2019-’24 Combo
1st: Dawson & Bobbie Taylor, Cameron, North Carolina -- 2020 Freightliner Cascadia and 2024 Utility, “Roll of the Dice”
3rd: Dustin Bridge, Lincoln, Illinois -- 2024 Kenworth W990 and 2024 Wilson
Working Truck: 2010-’18 Combo
1st: Maylon Unruh, Convoy, Ohio -- 2017 Kenworth W900 and 2024 Wilson
3rd: Eddie Telles, La Puente, California -- 2015 Peterbilt 389 and 2023 Great Dane
Working Truck: 2001-’09 Combo
1st: Michael and Jackie Wallace, Ashville, Alabama -- 2007 Freightliner Coronado and 2014 Great Dane, “Semper Fi”
3rd: Rob Finch, Marietta, Pennsylvania -- 2005 Peterbilt 379X and 2006 East, “Baby Girl”
Working Truck: 2000 & Older Combo
1st: Daniel and Phyllis Snow, Harrison, Arkansas -- 1996 Freightliner Classic XL and 2006 Utility, “The Goose”
3rd: Lane Langenkamp, Celina, Ohio -- 2000 Freightliner and 2023 Landoll
Show Class: Bobtail
1st: Kate Whiting, Chetek, Wisconsin -- 1973 Kenworth W900A, “Cherry Pie”
3rd: Felix Martinez, Miami, Florida -- 2012 Peterbilt 389, “Don’t Panic”
Show Class: Combo
1st: Douglas Prier, Dyersville, Iowa -- 2022 Kenworth W900L and 2022 Wilson, “The Green Lantern”
3rd: Marvin Vankampen, Wyoming, Michigan -- 2024 Kenworth W900 and 2018 Wabash
Custom Paint: Bobtail
1st: Dan Brubaker, Sigourney, Iowa -- 1996 Peterbilt 379, “Low Life”
3rd: Dylan McCrabb, Williamsburg, Iowa -- 2024 Peterbilt 389X
Custom Paint: Combo
1st: Dane Hartman, Hoppeston, Illinois -- 2024 Peterbilt 389 and 2024 Wilson, “American Dream”
3rd: Luke Ruggles, Oakley, Kansas -- 2024 Peterbilt 389 and 2025 Heil, “Ol’ Johnson”
Custom Graphics: Bobtail
1st: Marvin Vankampen, Wyoming, Michigan -- 1986 Peterbilt 359
3rd: Gary Walter, Defiance, Ohio -- 1995 Kenworth W900L, “Johnny”
Custom Graphics: Combo
1st: Dennis Durand, Winnipeg, Manitoba -- 2020 Kenworth W900B and 2020 Tremean
3rd: Daniel & Phyllis Snow, Harrison, Arkansas -- 1996 Freightliner Classic XL and 2006 Utility, “The Goose”
Polish & Detail: Bobtail
1st: Frederick Rethwisch, Tomah, Wisconsin -- 1986 International 9670
3rd: Raiko Graveran, Orlando, Florida -- 1995 Freightliner FLD120, “Little Blue”
Polish & Detail: Combo
1st: Dane Hartman, Hoppeston, Illinois -- 2024 Peterbilt 389 and 2024 Wilson, “American Dream” (See Hartman's truck above, pictured among the Custom Paint: Combo winners)
2nd: Jeff Hoker, Dixon, Iowa -- 2023 Peterbilt 389 and 2023 Great Dane, “Worth the Wait”
3rd: Douglas Prier, Dyersville, Iowa -- 2022 Kenworth W900L and 2022 Wilson, “The Green Lantern”
Interior: OEM Sleeper, Bobtail
1st: Frederick Rethwisch, Tomah, Wisconsin -- 1986 International 9670 (See Rethwisch's truck above in the Polish & Detail: Bobtail class)
2nd: Felix Martinez, Miami, Florida -- 2012 Peterbilt 389, “Don’t Panic”
3rd: Nikeyta Matthews, Lake Wales, Florida -- 2022 Peterbilt 579, “Ms. Clarissa”
Interior: OEM Sleeper, Combo
1st: Dane Hartman, Hoppeston, Illinois -- 2024 Peterbilt 389 and 2024 Wilson, “American Dream”
2nd: Jake Armet, Elkhart, Iowa -- 2022 Peterbilt 389 and 2024 Wilson
3rd: Jeff Hoker, Dixon, Iowa -- 2023 Peterbilt 389 and 2023 Great Dane, “Worth the Wait”
Interior: OEM Conversion Sleeper
1st: John Jaikes, Nanticoke, Pennsylvania -- 1999 Kenworth W900L and 2006 Utility, “Only Class”
3rd: Marvin VanKampen, Wyoming, Michigan -- 1979 Kenworth W900
Interior: Custom Sleeper
1st: Daniel & Phyllis Snow, Harrison, Arkansas -- 1996 Freightliner Classic XL and 2006 Utility, “The Goose”
2nd: Dan Brubaker, Sigourney, Iowa -- 1996 Peterbilt 379, “Low Life”
3rd: Michael & Jackie Wallace, Ashville, Alabama -- 2007 Freightliner Coronado and 2014 Great Dane, “Semper Fi”
Lights at Night: Bobtail, Theme
1st: Fredrick "Fritz" Littlefield, Forest Lake, Minnesota -- 2006 Peterbilt 379, “Money Pit”
3rd: Frederick Rethwisch, Tomah, Wisconsin -- 1986 International 9670
Lights at Night: Bobtail, Most Unique
1st: Mark Aragon, Lasalle, Colorado -- 2003 Peterbilt 379, “Slammed Distraction”
3rd: James Weverka, Octavia, Nebraska -- 2005 Kenworth W900L, “Hercules”
Lights at Night: Bobtail, Overall Presentation
1st: Frederick Rethwisch, Tomah, Wisconsin -- 1986 International 9670
3rd: Kate Whiting, Chetek, Wisconsin -- 1973 Kenworth W900A, “Cherry Pie”
Lights at Night: Combo, Theme
1st: Dane Hartman, Hoppeston, Illinois -- 2024 Peterbilt 389 and 2024 Wilson, “American Dream”
3rd: Michael and Jackie Wallace, Ashville, Alabama -- 2007 Freightliner Coronado and 2014 Great Dane, “Semper Fi”
Lights at Night: Combo, Most Unique
1st: Dane Hartman, Hoppeston, Illinois -- 2024 Peterbilt 389 and 2024 Wilson, “American Dream”
2nd: Dawson & Bobbie Taylor, Cameron, North Carolina -- 2020 Freightliner Cascadia and 2024 Utility, “Roll of the Dice”
3rd: Dustin Bridge, Lincoln, Illinois -- 2024 Kenworth W990 and 2024 Wilson
Lights at Night: Combo, Overall Presentation
1st: Dane Hartman, Hoppeston, Illinois -- 2024 Peterbilt 389 and 2024 Wilson, “American Dream”
2nd: John Jaikes, Nanticoke, Pennsylvania -- 1999 Kenworth W900L and 2006 Utility, “Only Class”
3rd: Dennis Durand, Winnipeg, Manitoba -- 2020 Kenworth W900B and 2020 Tremean
Lights at Night: Specialty
Tim Feidt of Maplewood, Minnesota -- 1984 Mack RB, “Major Attitude”
Best Overall Theme
Daniel & Phyllis Snow, Harrison, Arkansas -- 1996 Freightliner Classic XL and 2006 Utility, “The Goose”
Trucker’s Choice
Raiko Graveran, Orlando, Florida -- 1995 Freightliner FLD120, “Little Blue”
