BUTLER TWP — The smell of hot dogs and anticipation was in the air in the Meridian neighborhood in the predawn hours on Saturday, as early birds looking to park inside the Butler Farm Show grounds made their way to the Buttercup Road entrance for the second Trump rally at the venue.

At morning light, at 6 a.m., cars sat bumper-to-bumper on Meridian, Buttercup, Kreiss and Whitestown roads waiting their turn to enter the rally parking lot.

Meridian Road was blocked from Deer Run Road to the Sheetz entrance. State police cruisers and Butler Township Fire District trucks ensured no vehicles entered that stretch of road. Many cars entered Deer Run Road to turn around and head south on Meridian.

A state trooper blocking Meridian Road at Deer Run would not comment on why that section of road was blocked.

Those unfamiliar with the territory asked troopers, and anyone on foot, for directions to the rally.

Property owners and businesses in the neighborhood looking to earn a few bucks placed homemade signs at the entrances to parking lots and driveways advertising widely ranging prices for rally-parkers.

A property at 108 Buttercup Road sold parking for $25, as the residents did for the first Trump rally in July.

Danny Holtgraver got to the property at 6:15 a.m. to tout his parking venue.

He said traffic was at a standstill at that time, and many with tickets to the rally parked along Buttercup overnight in an effort to be among the first to enter the farm show grounds Saturday morning.

He said once the gates opened at 8 a.m. traffic quickly dissipated.

Holtgraver had 71 cars park at the property during the July rally. He said he can fit more than 300 cars at the property.

“It’s pretty wild,” he said of Trump returning to the venue.

Just a few dozen feet down the street, a man who did not want to be named sold hot dogs, chips and drinks at the end of his driveway in the hopes that motorists stacked up later would feel a little hungry.

By 8:15 a.m., he had sold two or three dogs. He made 60 for the rally, and charged $2 apiece.

He also charged $25 to park in the driveway. A few Trump-festooned vehicles chose his venue in the early morning hours.

Asked how he felt about Trump returning, he said “I have no opinion.”

Jocelyn Daugherty and Josh Seelbaugh rented the former W. Rick’s Taproom and Grill property to earn a few bucks for parking.

The pair charged $40 per car. Daugherty is a former employee of W. Ricks, which was torn down mid-July after being heavily damaged Feb. 18 by a fire.

“Last time, when the building was here, we could fit 96 cars,” she said. “Without the building now, I think we can fit 130.

They had no cars in the lot at 8:30 a.m., but expected many customers after the farm show parking filled up.

When the lot filled, the pair planned to leave.

Seelbaugh said he appreciates Trump visiting for a second time, as neighbors could make a few dollars through parking.

He pointed out that the farm show grounds was not really used as an event venue before the first Trump rally.

“Hopefully the farm show will be remembered for something better this time,” Seelbaugh said.

Rita Mager, who co-owns a property at the intersection of Meridian Road and Fontana Street with her husband, Ron, wore an orange vest as she waited for Trump supporters to park in her lot for $20.

Mager attended the first Trump rally, and decided to park cars at her property when she heard Trump’s wife, Melania, might appear on Saturday.

“Last time, it was 92 degrees,” Mager said.

Regarding her experience at the July 13 rally, she said before the gunman, Matthew Crooks, fired, she wondered about a commotion she had noticed.

“I remember all the people on the top row (of the bleachers behind the podium) kept looking over toward AGR,” Mager said.

When shots rang out, she recalled thinking it was rude of someone to set off firecrackers, not knowing Trump was grazed by a bullet and Corey Comperatore was fatally wounded.

“We were calm as could be. I thought he was going to come back on the stage. Then someone yelled ‘Gunshots! Get down!’” Mager said.

She said she elected to serve as a parking lot venue on Saturday instead of spending all day at the Farms Show grounds.

As of 9 a.m. Saturday, Route 68 in front of the farm show grounds was a chaotic mix of stands selling all manner of Trump gear and police activity on Saturday morning.

The Eagle will continue to report on the rally as the day progresses.