Ohio benefit for advocate and former trucker Arline Bennett staging this week

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Truckers from as far as California, as well as two former Trucker Talent Search champions, will be converging at the Holmes County Fairgrounds in Millersburg, Ohio, this week — Aug. 28, 29 and 30 — to honor retired trucker and longtime industry advocate Arline Bennett (“Ms. Arline,” as she’s affectionately known) at a large indoor/outdoor facility conducive to social distancing.

Arline BennettArline Bennett

According to Marcus Sommers,  independent owner-operator and co-founder of the United States Transportation Alliance, Ms. Arline had reached out to him in July, expressing her wish that she might see a small truckers’ picnic come to Ohio. Ms. Bennett, who resides in Ohio, is in the throes of a two-year battle with stage 4 lung cancer.

“She was always involved,” Sommers said. “She put in her heart and soul as a die-hard industry advocate. If there were a million Arlines this industry would be a lot better off.”

Among entertainers slated to participate in the picnic is 2019 Overdrive-Red Eye Radio Trucker Talent Search champ Taylor Barker, here pictured with his wife, Cherie.Among entertainers slated to participate in the picnic is 2019 Overdrive-Red Eye Radio Trucker Talent Search champ Taylor Barker, here pictured with his wife, Cherie.

The Arline Bennett Truckshow and American Trucker’s Picnic will be co-hosted by the USTA, Riteload.com, Trucking Across America With the Schmitts and American Truckers Picnic, a West Coast-based group that has been hosting picnics throughout the United States.

The picnic, which will take place both outdoors and in a spacious temperature-controlled pavilion, is open to the public.

Attendees will be graced with entertainment by past Trucker Talent Search champions Taylor Barker (2019) and Mandi Jo Pinhiero (2018), with tentative commitments from other trucking musicians, depending on how their loads fall into place.

Independent owner-operator and singer-songwriter Mandi Jo Pinheiro performing her “Heartbeat” original song at the 2018 Overdrive/Red Eye Radio Trucker Talent Search at GATS, which she won.Independent owner-operator and singer-songwriter Mandi Jo Pinheiro performing her “Heartbeat” original song at the 2018 Overdrive/Red Eye Radio Trucker Talent Search at GATS, which she won.

The Holmes County Fairgrounds also offers the following amemities:
**Unlimited (and free) Semi Bobtail and Combo parking
**A/C, restrooms, showers on-site (towels not included)
**Camping on-site — full hook-up with 30-amp service available at $40/night; for reservations call 330-674-0869
**Food and entertainment on the grounds

Find the Holmes County Fairgrounds in Millersburg on a map at this link.

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