Sarasota County hosts 19th Annual Big Truck Day EGGstravaganza

Different county and state departments brought big vehicles for kids to explore.

  • By Jessica Salmond
  • | 4:03 p.m. April 4, 2015
  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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Kids grabbed eggs and honked horns at Twin Lakes Park today.

Sarasota County hosted the 19th annual Big Trucks Day EGGstravaganza Saturday, April 4, at the park. Different divisions of the county brought large-scale equipment for children to explore and play in, including the Sarasota County Fire Department and the Sheriff's Office. Other organizations included the Florida State Highway Patrol, the Florida State Department of Forestry, Florida Power and Light and Publix.

The county also hosted two Easter egg hunts.

Deputy Eric Ellis helped the Sheriff's Office with kids who wanted to climb around in patrol cars.

"A lot of times kids see us at the worst times," Ellis said. "We want kids to understand we're the good guys. It's fun to bring them out here and let them play with the lights and sirens and let them see what we do."

"Kids like big toys, these are about as big as it gets," Thomas Hagans said.

Thomas Hagans, who works for the county's Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources department, brought two "swamp buggies" that he had helped build. The buggies were a popular attraction for the kids. Hagans said it took him about eight months to build one. 

Besides letting kids have fun, Hagans said there is a benefit for the general public as well.

"It gets the public a chance to see where their money is going—see where their tax dollars are going," Hagans said. 

Steele Jackson, 8, of Nokomis, said his favorite part of the day was the county's fire trucks. He climbed up in the back of one of the ladder trucks and got to ask Gary Terpak, from Station 11, all his burning questions about firefighting, such as how bigger fires are put out. 

Why was the fire department his favorite? "Because they save lives sometimes," Jackson said. 

Glenn Galbraith, also from Station 11, said the fire trucks had been a popular item during the event. 

"It's funny becuase kids get excited when they see them, and when they see how big they are, they get a little scared," he said.

Steele Jackson, 8, said he was already pretty strong. His favorite thing at the Big Truck Day was the fire trucks.
Steele Jackson, 8, said he was already pretty strong. His favorite thing at the Big Truck Day was the fire trucks. "They save lives sometimes," he said.
Dylan Krumm, 5, and his mom, Stevie, watch the camera drone flying over the event.
Dylan Krumm, 5, and his mom, Stevie, watch the camera drone flying over the event.
Devin Slegeski helps his daughter Paige, 3, down from the swamp buggy.
Devin Slegeski helps his daughter Paige, 3, down from the swamp buggy.
Gaetano Castiglione, and Brighton, 2, wait for the egg hunt. Brighton said she wanted to get two eggs.
Gaetano Castiglione, and Brighton, 2, wait for the egg hunt. Brighton said she wanted to get two eggs.
Maggie Whitley, 2, plays and waits for the Easter egg hunt.
Maggie Whitley, 2, plays and waits for the Easter egg hunt.
Parents and kids line up for the Easter egg hunt.
Parents and kids line up for the Easter egg hunt.
Julian Drass, 2, steers the Florida State Department of Forestry's truck.
Julian Drass, 2, steers the Florida State Department of Forestry's truck.
Hayden Khuu, 3, talks with Glenn Galbraith, a firefighter from Station 11.
Hayden Khuu, 3, talks with Glenn Galbraith, a firefighter from Station 11.
Rhys Prettyman, 2, scattered bubbles in the air while waiting for the egg hunt.
Rhys Prettyman, 2, scattered bubbles in the air while waiting for the egg hunt.
Daniel and Liz Perez with their kids, Marcelo, 3, and Sofia, 4. It was Marcelo's first egg hunt.
Daniel and Liz Perez with their kids, Marcelo, 3, and Sofia, 4. It was Marcelo's first egg hunt.
Colton Barnett, 2, gets help out of a tractor from Polly Barnett, his grandmother. Polly said he loves big trucks–he had on a Tonka truck t-shirt.
Colton Barnett, 2, gets help out of a tractor from Polly Barnett, his grandmother. Polly said he loves big trucks–he had on a Tonka truck t-shirt.
Zack Bartolone, 2, said green was his favorite color.
Zack Bartolone, 2, said green was his favorite color.
The Sheriff's Office brought out a few vehicles for the kids to explore.
The Sheriff's Office brought out a few vehicles for the kids to explore.
Kids wait to get the eggs. Waiting is hard!
Kids wait to get the eggs. Waiting is hard!
After an agonizing wait, kids at the Big Truck EGGstravaganza egg hunt were released onto the field.
After an agonizing wait, kids at the Big Truck EGGstravaganza egg hunt were released onto the field.
Matthew Allen, 3, unloads his eggs to check out what he found.
Matthew Allen, 3, unloads his eggs to check out what he found.
Marcelo Perez, 16 months old, checks out one of his eggs.
Marcelo Perez, 16 months old, checks out one of his eggs.
Steele Jackson, 8, asks Gary Terpak, from Station 11, how big fires are put out.
Steele Jackson, 8, asks Gary Terpak, from Station 11, how big fires are put out.

 

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