Tractors, firetrucks and other big vehicles wow little ones

Jerred Willits was nervous but had a huge smile on his face when a firefighter picked him up and placed him in the back of a firetruck Saturday.

“You’re like a real firefighter,” said Jerred’s mother, Nicole Willits, as she snapped a photo.

Hundreds of children swarmed the truck Saturday morning at the Holcom Sports Complex parking lot, 2601 W. 25th St. Kids put on helmets and headphones inside the truck and rang the bell on the front.

“Some future applicants for our department,” said Capt. Jim Saladin, of Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical, as he answered questions about the truck and made sure children aboard stayed safe.

“Look at me,” Sam Webb, 4, proudly yelled to his parents from the back cab of the firetruck.

Sam hopped down and ran to a nearby tractor, but his father scampered back to fetch his Superman ball cap.

“He wants to be a superhero, so I guess a fireman is the closest thing,” Russell Webb said.

Nearly 300 people from around the area showed up for the Big Rigs for Li’l Kids event, put on by the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department.

The truck, from Fire Station No. 5, and a Lawrence police car were the most popular attractions, but an assortment of tractors, garbage trucks and a city bucket truck completed the fleet of real-life big rigs children could tackle.

“It’s cool,” said Gannon Hill, 5, after crawling around Officer Matt Sarna’s police car.

“We have an aspiring police officer right here,” said Gannon’s mother, Megan Hill.

Meanwhile, Andrew Henderson, 3, sat atop a large mower, which he found most interesting.

He jiggled the levers, turned the steering wheel and slid down to the operating platform to push the brake pedal.

But then Andrew gave another child a turn and was ready to move on to another truck.

“He’s obviously enjoying it,” said Mark Henderson, his father. “He just loves big equipment.”

“I’m sure he’ll be talking about this for weeks,” said Susan Henderson, his mother.

Organizers said they were pleased with the turnout and excitement and could promise bigger trucks next year.