By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The parking lot was full and overflowed to neighborhood streets for Thursday’s Go Truck Go in Hays.

Children and their parents were invited to the popular annual event sponsored Hays USD 489 Early Childhood Connections for a closeup experience with large work vehicles — and their drivers — used in and around Hays.

The two-hour event was held for the first time at the former Oak Park Medical Complex, 2501 E. 13th, now home to all of the school district’s early childhood programs. The Hays school board will consider suggested new names for the four-building complex at its Monday meeting.

Youngsters got up close and personal with the operators of the huge vehicles who lifted the smallest kids up into high cabs while talking about their job and how the vehicle is used. Other children took pride in clambering up by themselves and posing for pictures taken by their parents.

The vehicles were parked on the east side of the school complex.

Walking alongside the vehicle lineup was also a lesson in learning colors as parents pointed out the bright red Hays fire truck, a yellow USD 489 school bus near a yellow Ellis County Public Works road grader, the John Deere green tractor from Carrico Implement, gleaming white Midwest Energy bucket trucks, and a blue semi from Simpson Farm Enterprises.

First responders from Ellis County showed curious youngsters the equipment aboard their fire truck, ambulance, and police and sheriff’s vehicles.

Free food and drinks were also available for the families, many of whom took advantage of the adjacent Kiwanis Park to enjoy a picnic.

Several agencies provided information and giveaways from their groups including Girl Scouts, CASA of the High Plains, Cottonwood Extension District and the city of Hays Water Resources Department.