WAUPUN — Now that the Waupun Truck-n-Show has officially concluded, the committee behind organizing the event for the last 35 years looks back at their final show.
The 35th Annual Waupun Truck-n-Show brought over 520 trucks to the Waupun area from all over the country last weekend, August 9-10. The weekend event, traditionally held the second week of August, had two parades, displays, exhibitor hall, food trucks, and more.
GALLERY: Final Waupun Truck-n-Show.
While the ‘Show played a big part in Waupun tourism over the last three and a half decades, the organizers felt now was the right time to retire.
“It was a big part of my life, and I always looked forward to seeing everyone,” said Duey Vande Zande, who serves as the president of the Waupun Truck-n-Show Committee. “I’m sad that it came to an end. I’m going to miss it, definitely.”
The primary reason for the end of the Waupun Truck Show was a lack of new volunteers in the organization, with many of the most integral members having worked in the group for over twenty years and now wished to retire.
“It was an awesome show, but it was a bittersweet weekend for all of us,” said Nancy Kutschenreuter, who serves as the vice president of the Truck-n-Show committee. “We’re not getting any younger, and it takes a lot of energy to run this sort of event. We—the Committee of the Waupun Truck Show—feel like we made the right choice,” she said.
The lack of new volunteers isn’t a new problem, with discussions about ending the Truck-n-Show starting several years ago.
“Nobody really sees behind the scenes of what it all takes. We were exhausted, we were stressed, but we got through it. I think if we had people come in and could tell them exactly how this show was run, and that’s why it’s been successful for 35 years, people would see how much you have to dedicate yourself to it.”
“Now that it’s over there’s no bringing it back, and that isn’t saying that there couldn’t be another show that would bring trucks back to Waupun,” she said. “But that would have to be a show for the next generation.”
The Truck Show was run entirely by volunteers and was in many aspects planned a year in advance. If the show had been continued for next year, the Committe would already be making plans and contacting vendors mere days after cleaning up.
“It really hit us when we registered the last truck,” Kutschenreuter said. “Those little things are what really hit you, the last one I wrote in the binder, the last one I entered in the competition—and when I closed that book it was closing the final chapter of the ‘Show.”
These emotions were well on display during the speeches Saturday at noon, with the presentation of awards to their most dedicated volunteers followed by an auction for the first slots in the Saturday afternoon parade.
WATCH: Speeches and Auction at the 35th Annual and Final Waupun Truck-n-Show.
The winner of the first place auction was Ron Nabor, who had heard about Duey never getting the chance to experience driving in the parade, and donated his spot to him as the first truck in the final parade.
“It was very heartwarming,” Duey said. “I didn’t know I was going to get put in this truck. It was really overwhelming to go through and see everyone.”
This year’s Truck Show broke several records including a final count of 526 trucks registered, the highest in its history, and over $40,000 in money raised for Make-a-Wish and over $24,000 for REACH Waupun.
Also successful were the various fundraiser meals, the brat and fish fry by the Fox Lake Snowblazers both days, and the Lion’s Club pancake breakfast Saturday morning, each being completely sold out by the end of each day.
“When Duey and I got together to make sure everything was completed on Monday, I thought about how it just amazed me that only 48 hours ago the Community Center [Ice Arena] area was so packed with people and trucks, but yesterday it looked like nothing ever happened there—how fast things can change,” Nancy said.
The Waupun Truck-n-Show Committee is made up of the following members in its final year:
President: Duey Vande Zande
Vice President: Nancy Kutschenreuter
Treasurer: Lola Milner
Secretary: Sharon Loosen
Board members: Tom Loveless, Steve Schaalma, Scott Tofeland.
Other members: Mike Brown, Terry Beine, Wanda Dewitt, Jamie Mulder, Judy Schaalma, Carrie Sacket, Jeff Kreuzinger, Jeff and Peggy Bolstad, Jennifer Fehling, and Brenda Douma.
Many more volunteers who have gone unnamed were also a big part in the show’s success.
“We can’t thank enough all the volunteers that have helped, the Waupun Truck Show greatly, greatly appreciates it,” Kutschenreuter said.
The Committee will be meeting over the next few months to figure out what to do with their remaining materials and are planning an awards banquet in November to commemorate their volunteers.
