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Issue date: 7/8/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Heidi LeBaron Dallin Minnoch, son of former WSU football player Mike Minnoch rides past the Gravel Masters donation truck in the North Ogden.

As Dallin Minnoch cruised on his tricycle, ready to join in the bike section of the Ogden Fourth of July parade, he glanced at a truck that could tow 20 tons. He and his family looked forward to seeing another one in the parade. Though Dallin may not have understood its purpose, his father, a former Weber State University football player, did.

"It's for charity," Mike Minnoch said. "It's a cool thing they do."

The Minnoch family is one of many families who notice the massive Gravel Masters trucks every year in the Ogden Fourth of July parade.

Jessica Medelline, a WSU alumni worked with her father James Hammon to organize the event. Both serve as managing officers for Gravel Masters in Ogden. Medelline said they were glad to be in the paraade for a cause.

"We do the parade every year." Medelline said. "It's a tradition. But this is the first year we've done it for charity."

Medelline started the fund-raising event for St. Anne's when she heard that people aren't willing to donate as readily in the summer as they are at Christmas time.

"It's really true," Medelline said. "We had a bit of a hard time." Getting the word out was the most difficult struggle. Nonetheless Medelline said that they ended up with a good truckload of food.and Hammon drove their trucks through the Ogden parade to raise awareness for their event.

While Medelline and Hammon participated in the parade, driver and operator Brian Farr managed collections with a second truck parked in the North Ogden Smiths.

"It's going to the poor and homeless," Farr said, "so it's for a great cause."

Farr put on a show with the Gravel Masters Truck, attracting attention. He demonstrated how he could make the truck pull out, release an 18-foot boom, run a conveyor, and use a remote control to spread gravel.

"It's great for safety because the operators can see," Farr said. "It's hard when you're in a big truck sometimes. This way we can see if a child or someone ran by."

The only moment Farr had to be in the truck was when he turned the ignition. Everything else could be remote operated.

He then moved the truck back to its original starting position, drawing attention to the cardboard collection bin for St. Anne's when Farr parked behind it. The truck came within inches of the donation box without disturbing it.

"It really is neat," Farr said.

He reinforced his commitment to the cause and willingness to help, even if it meant putting his plans on hold.

"I was actually supposed to leave for a family vacation this morning," Farr said, "but when my boss called and said he needed someone to be here while they were out in the parade, I couldn't say no. It's a good thing they do."

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