At Papa John’s Lot, it’s live music, good eats and plenty of giving back

Depending on your perspective, the highlight of any MATS show may be the spectacular product reveals, or perhaps the glitzy, glittering show trucks, or the miles and miles of free “swag” exhibitors give away in hopes of catching the attention of passersby at one of the hundreds of booths or displays.

But for a hardcore group of drivers, the highlights start and end with whatever’s going on at the Papa John’s Lot before and after the Kentucky Expo Center opens or shuts down each day.

The Papa John’s Stadium parking lot is where truckers can park their rigs and get shuttle service to and from the venue, but it’s also a hub of all sorts of activities, many of which are geared around one of truckers’ favorite pastimes – charitable giving.

Concerts included a Saturday night performance by OOIDA member Tony Justice, sponsored by OOIDA. Singer-songwriter and OOIDA member Joey Holiday also performed on both Thursday and Friday nights from his custom trailer/traveling stage.

Despite unseasonably cold temperatures on Thursday, Trucking Solutions Group hosted its annual Driver Health Walk, with TSG member and OOIDA director of regulatory affairs Scott Grenerth leading a procession of about 30 truckers on a 2.2-mile walk to Churchill Downs and back. TSG also hosted a roundtable discussion to promote Cooking In The Cab.

Several trucker charities hosted events for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Groups involved include Jacob Russell Boulanger Memorial (JRBM) Fund and Truckers United for Charities, and the Just Because group (JBC). Trucker Charity and Operation Roger also participated.

An impromptu fundraiser was held during the Mid-America Trucking Show for the OOIDA Mary-Johnston Scholarship Fund. Spirit Captain Jon Osburn found some glow sticks from a previous show and members took off selling them on the lot. Looks like they did quite well.

The total amounts raised for various groups are still being tabulated, but early returns include more than $4,800 total raised for groups including St. Christopher Fund, the Last Ride Home, OOIDA’s Truckers for Troops, and Camp Quality Kentuckiana, which provides year-round programs and services for children with cancer and their families. Non-perishable food items were also donated to local food banks in Louisville.

What's cookin' at Papa John's?

Every year, the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville is bigger and better, but one thing stays the same. With all that walking and talking, you are going to be hungry. When you shuttle over to the parking lot at Papa John’s, you’ll discover that you and your taste buds have hit the jackpot.

Why is everyone so hungry at a truck show? Not to worry.

The trade show takes place March 26-28, and show management arranges for their trucking guests to park in the lot at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. During the off-show hours, the place is jumpin’. This year, move over, Granny Clampett, because almost everybody’s whomping up vittles.

You’ll find Truckers United for Charities and the Just Because (JBC) volunteers grilling up good stuff in exchange for donations, which they then pay forward to numerous charities for children. As usual, they will be cooking dogs, burgers and brats all three days. On Thursday and Friday morning, they’ll be serving sausage, bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches for breakfast.

OOIDA’s Jon Osburn says starting Thursday, Truckers United for Charities and JBC are teaming up again with their traditional “blue plate special” for dinners after the show closes each night. OOIDA Life Spouse Kimberly Schmidt, secretary for both of those groups, says items on the menu include pinto beans and cornbread for Wednesday, chicken fried steak for Thursday, fried catfish and hush puppies for Friday, and brisket and barbecued chicken for Saturday night. (Psssst. OOIDA Members Buzz and Laurie Scutt told Land Line the blue plate specials will make the neighbors come running.)

Dean Owens reports that every day the Jacob Russell Boulanger Memorial Fund group (helpatrucker.org) will have food available to all drivers at no cost. He says the food is free at the “Burnt Beans Commissary” but donations are “gladly accepted.” JRBM is planning two dinners in honor of the group’s founding members, OOIDA Life Members Rusty “Yoda” Wade and Don “Burnt Beans” McKinley. Rusty died in January of 2013, and Don died in June of 2014.

OOIDA Member Rob Fernald reports that he and a small enthusiastic group of truckers (not affiliated with any club or charity) will again be setting up their kitchen and “dining room” at the north end of Lot C. Rob says it’s truckers who like doing it and “giving back,” and that’s why their kitchen is called the Because We Can Café.

Rob, Kacie Wood, Janet and Lawrence McNeil and a handful of other OOIDA members will serve free, healthy and wholesome meals to attendees. 

Saturday starts with biscuits and gravy with Tim Ridley (Nemo Entertainment) to benefit the St. Christopher Fund. After the show closes at the Expo Center on Saturday, there’s more action at Papa John’s, including a cook-off.

In addition to the fare of these road kitchen cooks, the first-ever "Cooking in the Truck Summit"

 is set to begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 26, in the Freightliner hospitality trailer at Papa John’s.

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