WALCOTT, Iowa — One of the highlights of the annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree, held at the Iowa 80 Truckstop just off Interstate 80 in Walcott, Iowa, is the Truckers Best Friend pet competition.
Many drivers travel the highways of North America with furred, finned or feathered co-pilots by their side, and this contest gives them a chance to highlight their unique bonds. During this year’s Jamboree, held July 11-13, the pet competition went “to the dogs” with all the non-human competitors being of the canine variety.
Drivers and pets vied for honors in three categories — Best Dressed, Owner Look-Alike and Best Trick. Here are the results of this year’s Trucker’s Best Friend contest.
Best Dressed
Taking first place were “Zippy” and Frederick Rethwisch of Toma, Wisconsin. The pair charmed the audience and judges alike dressed as Big Enos and Little Enos from the movie “Smokey and the Bandit.”
“Peanut” and Ivan F. of Orlando, Florida took second place in the best-dressed category. Peanut wowed the crowd with his service dog vest, cowboy hat and bright red “Doggles” sunglasses.
Coming in third place were “Benji” (aka “Puggles”) and Dawn Chase of New Hartford, Iowa. Puggles sported a lavender service dog vest and coordinating leash, which perfectly complemented Chase’s purple tank.
Owner Look-Alike
Earning first place were Zippy and Rethwisch, both clad in baby blue suits with sunny yellow scarves.
“Hank” and owner William Shrake of Conway, South Carolina, came in second. Hank sported a black and tan collar that coordinated perfectly with Shrake’s attire; he also sported an American flag dog tag.
In third place were Peanut and Ivan F., perhaps because of their similar expressions.
Best Trick
In first place were Hank and Shrake, with Hank happily standing on his hind legs to receive a treat on command.
Proving that even when pets are winners even when they don’t perform on cue, Benji and Chase took second place, with Benji eliciting laughter as he refused to lie down on command (he did eventually make it to the ground).
Coming in third were Zippy and Rethwisch. Together, the pair acted out their movie roles by paying off the contest judges.
Click here to see the winners of this year’s Super Truck Beauty Contest.
Click here to see top winners from this year’s Trucker Olympics.
Click here to see the results of the Trucker’s Best Friend pet competition.
Linda Garner-Bunch has been with The Trucker since 2020, picking up the reins as managing editor in 2022. Linda has nearly 40 years of experience in the publishing industry, covering topics from the trucking and automotive industry to employment, real estate, home decor, crafts, cooking, weddings, high school sports — you name it, she’s written about it. She is also an experienced photographer, designer and copy editor who has a heartfelt love for the trucking industry, from the driver’s seat to the C-suite.
