Barron County Truck Show proceeds to go to 8-year-old Blaire Helstad

An 8-year-old Rice Lake girl who has been hospitalized since March at UW-Health American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison battling epilepsy will be the beneficiary of the upcoming Barron County Truck Show.

Proceeds from the fifth annual show, a nonprofit event with the slogan “Giving Back One Truck at a Time” slated for Sept. 27-28 at the Barron County Fairgrounds, will go toward helping Blaire, the daughter of Nick and Jen Helstad of Rice Lake.

“We choose a family, person or organization from a surrounding area to donate all the money raised at each year’s event,” the truck show website said. “From our first show in 2020 to now, this event has been able to grow along with the support from local communities and businesses. Over the past four years, we have raised over $80,000 for local families going through unfortunate circumstances to help alleviate their financial burdens.”

At each truck show, people will view semi-trucks of all makes and models, and try out items from food trucks, vendors, crafters and flea marketers.

As a way to thank participating truckers, a driver appreciation breakfast is served Saturday from 8-11 a.m. for a freewill donation with all proceeds going to the show’s benefit recipient. All are welcome. This year’s breakfast is sponsored by Nordquist Trucking of Almena.

The schedule for the two-day event includes:

• Friday, Sept. 27: Grounds open at 3 p.m., vendors/crafters from 3-7 p.m., kids truck or treat from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and kids activities from 5-8 p.m.

• Saturday, Sept. 28: Vendors/crafters from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., kids activities from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., live music by Two Fools on Stools w/ Clyde on the Side from noon-4 p.m., the annual Kauffman Fall Truck Pull Bash at 1 p.m., live music by Virginia Steel from 7-11 p.m., and a light parade down Main Street that leaves the grounds at 8 p.m.

“The Barron County Truck Show has a little something to offer everyone,” the website states.