As part of the “Cattle belt,” Garden City, KS is surrounded by agriculture as far as the eye can see. As most know, the western part of the state tends to have a drier climate in comparison to its eastern counterpart. Regardless of the dusty dryness of that area, Garden City has become home to the Sunflower Classic Benefit Truck Show, drawing in beautiful and shiny trucks since 2020, and raising money for local families in need.
During Covid, some shows were canceled, but truckers wanted to get out and meet up with their truck show families. During that time, new shows were started, with the opportunity for truckers to bring their trucks out, enjoy time together, and put their trucks on display. One thing I always remember Daniel Linss, our fearless leader at 10-4 Magazine, saying is that if a new show can make it to five years, it has a good chance of succeeding, and the Sunflower Classic Benefit Truck Show, now in its fifth year, is definitely succeeding.
Starting out as a vision of bringing a truck show to the Garden City area, the founders were Trevin Walck (May 2019 feature truck) and his girlfriend, Jessica Sharp. Since there wasn’t a show close to them in the state of Kansas, the two embarked on creating this event, and it was Jessica’s idea to make it a charity show. Trevin claims that this show wouldn’t even exist if it hadn’t been for his grandparents, Lyman and Juanita, as they are the reason he got into trucking in the first place. They have been at every show to support it since the first year.
Unfortunately, this year looked different because Trevin’s grandfather passed away, but his presence was still felt at the show. Held on June 6-8, 2025, at the Finney County Fairgrounds on the south side of Garden City, the weather during the show, like it normally is at that time of year, was pretty hot. It was a good thing everyone was able to get a break from the heat and come inside a building where most of the bobtails were parked. There wasn’t air conditioning in there, but there were fans, and it actually stayed fairly comfortable.
As a charity truck show, proceeds go to a family within the community who is in need. This year, 11-year-old Nicole Romero and her family from Holcomb, KS were the recipients. Nicole is battling
Acute Lymphoma, but that doesn’t stop her sweet smile from lighting up the room. Friday was a day for parking trucks with registration starting at noon. Indoor bobtail parking was first come first served, and it seemed that everyone who wanted to park inside was able to. That evening Weston Wilkerson put on a live concert. As a fourth-generation farmer/rancher, he kept things going, and then there was a light show at 8:00 pm.
On Saturday the show opened at 8:00 am and the activities started at noon, beginning with the Jake Brake Contest. The contest was run by Trevin, Jessica, Mason Smith (our February 2025 cover feature) and his wife Esther, and was measured by a decibel meter. As the day went on, votes were placed by the people and by the truckers for who would win the trophies, as there is no official judging at this show. To add to the excitement, the local cornhole league ran a tournament costing $40 per team, double elimination, and had a 50% payout.
I think my favorite part of the day was getting homemade ice cream, because who doesn’t love ice cream, especially on a hot day! What made it even better was Mason and Esther Smith who, continuing the tradition he learned from his grandfather, made the ice cream with his grandfather’s John Deere Hit & Miss ice cream maker. Chocolate and vanilla were the options, and it did not disappoint. This is the second year they have done this, and it looks like it will be a regular treat at the event from here on out. As Saturday continued, the music started at 7:00 pm by BK Beats, followed by Western Swing Dance by GC Rec, and then the light show began at 8:00 pm to close out the evening. The light show didn’t disappoint, with trucks lit up both inside and outside the building.
Sunday was awards day, and around 10:00am everyone started gathering into the building with their chairs. Raffle tickets were brought out from pockets everywhere as various items started getting raffled off. A friend of a friend to the show coordinators, who was an auctioneer, came out to auction off some of the big items. It was pretty exciting, especially when they auctioned off the spot for next year’s show shirt which was won by Peter “Rabbit” Chard.
Everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves, and finishing out the awards were final words from Trevin, Jessica, Mason and Esther, with gratitude for everyone, plus the fact that this year’s show raised just shy of $26,000 for Nicole Romero and her family (I don’t think there were many dry eyes in the building). Nicole was able to pick her favorite rig for the Sponsored’s Choice trophy and that went to Becca Mies with her good-looking Peterbilt bobtail. Each of the trophy recipients brought their trucks to the back of the parking lot and I photographed each one of the trucks and the drivers with their trophies.
A special and heartfelt thanks from the show’s organizers goes out to those who have graciously stepped up to help, whether it was anonymous donations, coming out annually to support the show, or volunteering at some point before, during, or after the event. Trevin said of Jessica, “She has been there since the beginning and there would be no show without her.” Mason and Esther Smith have become an important part of the show, as well, teaming up with Trevin and Jessica to help make it better every year. Esther handles the booth, and if not for her, it would be in shambles. Thanks to Klayton Keesling, who swoops in to help without fail, stays until everything is cleaned up, bows out, and heads for home in his cabover (featured in our December 2024 issue). Appreciation also goes to Craig and CJ Lucero and Michael “Chest Lettuce” and Chloe Mitchell for always showing up a couple days early with their trucks to help.
Shout out to Dickerson Custom Trucks for their donation to the trophies each year, to American Eagle Exhaust who has donated stainless products each year, and to Big Rig Tees for donating the design of the show shirts for the last three years. The show appreciates each and every sponsor who has come forward to help make this show a success including Valley Chrome, Lincoln Chrome, K&A Chrome Shop, Rockwood Products, Shift Products, 10-4 Magazine, JDK Trucking, Trux Accessories, Big Rig Chrome Shop, Diesel Life, Truck Town, 4 State Trucks, Lifetime Nut Covers, Isspro, SH Tube, TLC Cattle Relocation Specialist, Stay Loaded Apparel, MWL, Inc., Babcock Trucking, Klotz Sand & Asphalt Paving, D&J Truck and Trailer Service, and I-29 Custom Truck Parts.
Last but not least, the show crew is grateful to each and every driver who comes out every year and to their families who chip in to help without ever being asked or looking for anything in return. My favorite part of the truck show is always seeing my friends and having the opportunity to catch up, including Trevin and Jessica, who I didn’t get to spend near enough time with. I was able to get a nice visit with Colton and Lauren Chase who couldn’t bring trucks this year, but we were able to make the time to get dinner together that Saturday, along with Nic Baker from Nebraska, who drives for Silver Steer Trucking out of Correctionville, IA.
It was very cool to see Laird “Spike” Fuller, who I haven’t seen in years, along with his cool green 1995 Peterbilt (March 2012 feature truck) that is a green so unique that you can’t mistake it for someone else’s truck. It was also good to see Austin Jamvold-Banks (January 2022 feature truck) and Tony and Michelle Lampe (November 2024 feature truck). I also got to meet some new people, including the Strecker family, the Deaver family, Jessica’s mom Lisa, and Chad Dixon and his lovely girlfriend Holly (now fiancé since July 11).
The end of a show always seems to be a little bittersweet because usually within a few hours, there isn’t a truck left on the lot, everything has been cleaned up, and everyone goes their separate ways. I was invited along with the volunteers to join everyone for lunch at a local Mexican restaurant which, of course, was awesome. The future continues to look bright for this show, and the goal is to keep growing and raising money for local families in the community. This show is changing lives, and not just for the families benefiting from the show, but within the community, bringing a positive light to the trucking industry.
The Sunflower Classic Benefit Truck Show has continued to thrive each year, and after completing their fifth annual show, the show has raised a total of $102,576 for local families since its inception. I’m proud to have been able to witness the growth of this show from afar and design the show flyers since the beginning, but it was truly awesome to be able to be present for the show this year. Please keep your eyes peeled for updates on the show’s Facebook page as the planning begins for their 2026 event. As always, to all the drivers out there doing the deal, truck safe.