Over a thousand people braved the heat to be part of the inaugural Dig Day on 41A Saturday as kids were given a chance to get hands-on with big machinery with exhibits ranging from a Blackhawk helicopter and giant Tonka truck to excavators and jackhammers.

“We tried to have a large inventory for the kids to enjoy,” said Max Christopher, member of Highland Rim Kiwanis whose brain child led to the event. “It was great to see the excitement the kids had when they walked in.”

Set up for the event took days as the large equipment had to be hauled in a placed. The event itself began at 9 a.m. as hayride shuttles brought parents and their children from the parking area at Lowe’s. The children were then given event-themed safety jackets as keepsakes along with replica hard hats. From there the kids were given a wide array of options, many starting complementary slushies before stopping to see the “balloon lad/’ who made hundreds of balloon shapes during the eight-hour event.

“I got where my hands were cramping,” said “the balloon lady” Amanda Bernhardt as she soaked her hands in ice after the event. “But it was fun. The kids love to get their own balloon animals.”

From the welcome area, the kids and their parents were treated to a full campus of machines, including several excavators – most of which kids were allowed to get inside and play with their controls – engines off of course. There were also static piece of equipment like the Blackhawk helicopter and fire department vehicles including the ladder truck and classic fire engine. There were several live demonstrations going on throughout the campus that kids could watch.

Children were encouraged to crawl up inside the huge Tonka truck and a monster truck before getting to use a jackhammer. The local motorcycle service organization – The Punishers – had motorcycles at the event which kids could sit on. The Tullahoma Police Department, Coffee County Sheriffs Department and Tennessee Highway Patrol were also on scene with their vehicles.

“There was so much to do,” said Kiwanis member Tracy Sergeant of the inaugural event. ‘This was a big success.”

Kiwanis members are hopeful Dig Day on 41A will become an annual event, pointing out it was the sponsors that made it all possible.

Sponsors who helped make the event free to the community include: Excavator Level: Presenting Sponsor Hills Power Pro, Christopher Equipment, Barrett Construction & Renovation and Weichert, Realtors Joe On* and Associates.

Fire Truck Level: Lester, Greene, McCord and Thoma INS, Amentum, Lowe’s, Curl Construction and Excavating LLC, City of Tullahoma, Apex Restoration DKI, First Bank Manchester, Wellworth Bank, Access Title, Drain Masters, Stroop Accurate Refrigeration, Master of Ceremonies and Tullahoma News.

Police Level: Vanderbilt Tullahoma Harton Hospital, First Vision Bank, Ascend Federal Credit Union, Citizen Tri-County Bank, Mary Beard Accounting, Livingston Overhead Door, Mike Winton Realty, Stan McNabb, A Plus Title & Escrow LLC and. Siteworx.

Skid Steer Level: Provision Tax Preparation, Dr. C Michael Locke DMD, MD, Water’s Edge Chocolate, Mark Raulston/Farm Bureau, Daves Culbertson Funeral Home, Adult & Pediatric Dermatology Skin Solutions, Minute Man Press, 1st Services & Communications, All Things Automotive LLC, TUA Hard Hat Level: Biyom Body Shop, Renee Keene, M&P Dirtworks, Curlee Travel, Charles L. Parish, C&H Commercial Contractors Inc., Maddee’s LooLoos, and BYRom Body Shop.