Palm Coast, FL – Big trucks and getting dirty are stereotypically slated as jobs for the boys, but during the countywide Touch-A-Truck event, hosted by the City of Palm Coast on May 21st, the girls on site proved that if you’ve got the moxie, there’s a big truck for you too.
Easily the coolest truck on site, it looked like a piece of machinery straight out of an episode of G.I. Joe, brought in by Flagler County.
“This is an amphibious excavator. We’ll be able to go into swamps, canals and be able to clean out all the muck that’s stopping up stormwater and excess vegetative debris,” said Liz Yates, Flagler County Asset Manager for the Road & Bridge Department.
“They really, really like it. It’s very cool, it’s very high and the kids are getting a little bit scared climbing up onto it, but it’s a very good thing and it’s a lot of fun,” she said, watching George Miller help the kids navigate the equipment.
Among the dump trucks, concrete mixers and the likes, little girls were eagerly climbing in to the cabs of the big trucks to honk the horns and have as much fun as the boys learning more.
Mom Leanna Bourke and Allison Layer, both employees of the City of Palm Coast spent their day off touring the trucks with Bourke’s daughter Lilianna Bourke who loved the Army trucks.
“It’s very exciting,” said Bourke. “We work for public works and we’re out here supporting our department and you know, we work with all these trucks too.
Looking at all the trucks, getting a feel for them, the women were happy to see the community out and involved, especially young women.
“I think that everybody should be empowered to do what they’re passionate about,” shared Layer.
Not all big wheelin’, big trucks on site were for work, and Penny Buckles, owner of Tri-County Bobcat Services let visitors check out her tricked out Yamaha Viking, six-seater side-by-side. Perfect for her line of work, it’s like the limo of rolling through the woods in style.
“We do lot grading and underbrush mowing, and the city has invited all of us contractors out here today, and this is a cool event,” said Buckles.
“This is so exciting. Watch the faces of these kids. This right here is what it’s all about. This could be a future trade, a future operator,” she said. “Anything to pique their interest is amazing.”
