BUTLER TWP — It was caution tape, souvenirs, parking opportunists and flags on Meridian and Buttercup roads Saturday morning, as the neighborhood anticipated the rally at the Farm Show to be attended by former President Donald Trump, who is the assumed Republican presidential candidate in the 2024 election.

At 8 a.m., when the only public entrance to the Farm Show on Buttercup Road was opened, all of Buttercup was lined with cars, with about a dozen cars backed up on Meridian Road.

State police with cruiser lights flashing guided southbound cars on Meridian Road around the corner and onto Buttercup to wait in line to enter the Farm Show.

By 8:20 a.m., traffic to the east of the Buttercup Road entrance was back to normal.

Matt Veronesi, of Butler Township, stood in a driveway on Buttercup Road near a sign that said “Parking: $40 per car.”

Because those going to the rally could park at the Farm Show first thing in the morning, Veronesi was not seeing any business early on.

“We’re here for the long haul,” Veronesi said. “If we have to lower the price, we will.”

He figured he would fill his friend’s 3 acres — where he estimated he could fit 300 cars — once Farm Show parking filled up.

“If I can make a quick buck, I will,” Veronesi said.

He said a friend took a ride down Buttercup Road at 4 a.m. and reported 45 cars parked near the Farm Show entrance.

He didn’t have any strong reaction to Trump’s visit one way or the other.

“Not much is going to change,” he said of the visit.

Sgt. Thomas Vensel, of the Butler Township Police, said eight additional officers were added to Saturday’s schedule because of the rally.

He said township officers would largely handle traffic control, as most of the Farm Show Grounds is in Connoquenessing Township, which is covered by state police.

Vensel worried about 15,000 to 20,000 people trying to leave at the same time at the end of the rally.

“So far, so good,” he said of brief morning rush of cars to the rally. “I can’t believe people are getting here this early.”

Timothy and Heidi Phlegar, of Williamsport, Lycoming County, drove toward the Buttercup entrance just after 8 a.m.

“Our country is in a shambles and we need rescued, and he’s the only one who can do it,” Timothy Phlegar said of Trump.

A disabled veteran of both the Army and Navy, Phlegar said Trump helped out many veterans during his presidency.

David Quirk, of Erie, walked west on Buttercup at about 8:15. He and his wife wore red Trump shirts.

“I’ve been wanting to see him for a while,” Quirk said. “He did a lot for the country in his last term.”

He said the opposition is making Trump a target and that the television media is biased against him.

Quirk hopes Trump’s second term will see the closure of the southern border to illegal immigrants.

“My wife is from the Philippines, but she came here legally,” he said.

He said the number of people crossing the border is too much for the U.S. to bear.

“These countries need to fix their problems,” Quirk said. “We can’t take in the entire world.”

Ashley Crawford used her property on the corner of Meridian and Buttercup roads for a charitable cause: Selling $1 cups of lemonade to benefit Isaiah 117 House, which provides a safe and supportive space for children who were removed from their homes and are awaiting foster care placement.

“God laid foster care on my heart a long time ago,” Crawford said. “I did the training, then COVID hit, and I got pregnant with twins.”

Her five children planned to sell the lemonade to those waiting to get into the rally.

Jen McDowell, who lives on Meridian Road between Buttercup Road and the Brady Paul entrance to the Farm Show, said the neighborhood is accustomed to heavy traffic during Farm Show week.

“Especially on demolition derby night,” she said. “I’m anticipating this is going to be 10 times worse.”

McDowell said her neighbor planned to charge for parking if spaces ran out later in the day.

“I think I have everything I need for the day, so I’m just going to sit back and watch,” she said.

Many property owners on Meridian and Buttercup roads blocked their yards and driveways with caution tape, snow fencing, and even rags tied together and strung across the end of one driveway.

A large flag on a boom truck waved above Meridian Road near the intersection of Roe Avenue, and a gigantic Old Glory flapped in the breeze over the Farm Show grounds.

Enterprising property owners on Evans City Road to the east of the intersection with Meridian Road waited under pop-up canopies for overflow cars to park in their fields and yards.

Several vendors sold Trump-related items all around the area of the Farm Show as well.

At 9 a.m., traffic was normal to the east of the Farm Show, but Vensel said he heard reports of more traffic issues in Connoquenessing Township as the gates opened and Trump supporters were admitted to the grounds.

Temporary digital signs warned motorist not to park on Meridian Road or Evans City Road.

Speakers are slated to begin their comments at 3 p.m. and Trump is scheduled to arrive at 5.

The high temperature Saturday was forecast at 90 in the afternoon, with no rain predicted.