Most readers have seen raffles with big prizes, like new cars and trucks, and have probably wondered to themselves, “Who actually wins those prizes?”

Sandy Hook resident Vinny Alvarez can now say that he knows who wins those prizes, as he took home the brand new 2026 Toyota Tacoma Pro from Bridgewater Country Fair.

Alvarez has attended the Bridgewater Fair every year for over 30 years. Every year, he bought a ticket for the Bridgewater Volunteer Fire & EMS Department Raffle hoping he would win big. On Monday, August 24, Alvarez’s hopes came true. Ron Rotter, raffle chairman, called him up to let him know he won the truck.

“He left me a couple messages,” Alvarez began. “I didn’t reply back and I was listen[ing] to the messages and he said I won one of the prizes.”

Alvarez thought it was a joke at first and thought he maybe won one of the other prizes, which were e-bikes. Either way, Alvarez said he “would have been happy.”

The new truck could not have come “at a better time,” according to Alvarez. He recently purchased a farm in New York that he hopes to move to when he retires. He has spent every weekend since he purchased it restoring the old farmhouse and bringing it back to life.

While winning the truck was exciting, Alvarez made the difficult decision to trade it in to the dealer, reimburse Rotter for the taxes, and take the leftovers. He plans to use the money for farm equipment.

“I need the money for the equipment [on] my new farm, and I already have a truck, so I don’t need another one,” Alvarez said.

Rotter said that this course of action is common as first prize winners have to assume all taxes on the vehicle, which includes capital gains, to the federal and state governments. Rotter has seen people take out loans or write checks for the taxes.

“It’s exciting for us,” Rotter said about being able to raffle off a brand-new truck. “It is a good prize, and I was happy for Vinny.”

Bridgewater Fire & EMS Department begins selling raffle tickets around April, with the drawing always at 6 pm the Monday after the fair. Tickets are $20 each, and the money goes back to the Fire & EMS Department. The money raised from the raffle and the fair helps the department purchase new gear, new trucks, keep ambulances and fire engines stocked with first aid equipment, and more.

This year, the department sold around 7,000 entries. The prizes included the new truck, a Bulls Copperhead EVO Mountain Bike, Segway XYBER Off Road Bike, Aventour Abound E Bike, and a Segway ZT3 Pro Electric Scooter.

Even though Alvarez won the grand prize, he still plans to go to the Bridgewater Country Fair next year.

“I’ll be there next year,” Alvarez promised. “We’re actually looking forward to many other years down at the Bridgewater Fair.”

When asked if he plans on buying a raffle ticket next year, he said, “Of course!”

Alvarez had a message for others who are thinking about getting a ticket next year: “I think everybody should come and have a good time at the fair and try their luck. You never know.”

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Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.