The sexy side of trucking
I thought I had seen every contest or award that could be concocted for truckers. There are driving championships, safe-driving awards and recognitions for going above and beyond the call of duty. But it turns out I hadn’t seen it all.
During the week of July 24-28, WBKR – a country music station in Owensboro, Ky. – was counting down to No. 1 in a contest I couldn’t take my eyes off of. The “She Thinks Her Trucker’s Sexy” contest.
Needless to say, I had some questions for the person behind this. That person is Barb Birgy, promotions director for WBKR. She took me on a journey through the contest’s past.
“We all know the song from Kenny Chesney, ‘She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.’ Well, about five years ago … we did ‘She Thinks Her Farmer’s Sexy,’ because in Owensboro we have a lot of farmers,” Birgy told Land Line. “Huge response. Did it two years in a row and then we thought, ‘Wait a minute, other people are sexy, too, not just farmers.’ So we did plumbers and we had so much fun with plumbers, as you can imagine. They cracked us all up!”
I see what you did there, Barb.
So what to do for a follow-up act? Birgy said that truckers were a natural fit – given the large presence of the industry in the area. And just like that, the “She Think’s Her Trucker’s Sexy” contest was born.
“Biggest response we’ve had so far in this contest,” she said.
In total, 55 truckers were nominated for the prestigious title of “Sexiest Trucker in the Tri-State Area,” with first place garnering nearly 11,000 votes. The field of nominees was wide-ranging as well – with both men and women (and even a dog) vying for the crown.
Ultimately, Justin Castle, a driver for Bootz Trucking, was named this year’s sexiest trucker – at least in the radio station’s region. On top of bragging rights, Castle also walked away with a two-night stay at the Rough River Dam State Resort Park.
“I am nominating my sexy, hardworking husband … because he does everything in his power to make sure he provides for our children and sacrifices his time with us to do so,” Castle’s wife, Keira, said. “He takes every chance he gets to spend his free time with us. Nothing is sexier than a father who provides for his wife and children!”
There was some fierce competition, with Birgy saying that only 23 votes separated second and third place.
Rounding out the Top 5 in this year’s contest were: Second place, Carter Burnett; Third place, Rob Young; Fourth place, Andrew Dill and Fifth place, Robert Shelton.
The runners-up were given prizes, including concert tickets and amusement park passes.
Birgy said the contest was a lot of fun and that she and the staff at WBKR enjoyed being able to put truckers in the spotlight.
“Obviously the farmers can farm, but who’s going to deliver and who’s going to bring things to the stores? Who’s going to bring the materials to build the house? Who’s going to bring the clothes that we’re wearing? I mean, every single thing that you touch, you feel every single day of your life, a trucker has touched it too,” Birgy said. “And I think that that’s how come it’s important to make sure that they are celebrated. And, boy, we’ve been celebrating them over the last few weeks in a big way.” LL