TOP PHOTO: It was a fun day for more than 200 youths at Saturday’s JAKES Day.

By Charlotte Underwood 

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – The Pine Mountain Longbeards’ Annual JAKES Day was a “huge success” with “perfect weather”, according to organizers. 

This was the 11th JAKES Day (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) program and the 21st anniversary for the Pine Mountain Long Beards Chapter. 

The event was held at the Ball Farm and Event Center on Saturday and hosted more than 200 Campbell County kids, along with another couple hundred parents and community volunteers.

A tour of a medical helicopter was one of the many displays for the kids.

This year’s event featured educational and fun events for children of all ages, as well as refreshments, lunch and door prizes. 

The fun and learning started at 8:30 am and lasted till 3:30 pm. Kids got to fish, play games, climb rock walls, learn about archery, gun safety, trapping, hunting, face painting and more. 

“This year’s event went amazing and we couldn’t have ordered better weather; the Lord really blessed us with a nice day. The cooler weather really helped the the kids and the volunteers to enjoy the outdoors to the fullest; we couldn’t do it without all of our wonderful volunteers,” said organizer Jamie Ball.

Bow fishing was just one of the many activities.

This year’s event was attended by 200-plus children, 200 volunteers and another 200 in parents for around 600 total attendance, according to Ball.

She said the Pine Mountain Longbeards wanted to say a big thanks to all the sponsors and agencies and volunteers who “make the event successful each year.”

There were multiple public service agencies participating including the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, Tennessee Highway Patrol along with the Campbell County EMS, and the Campbell County Rural Fire Services. Lifestar also had a helicopter on display. Several elected officials from the court house and other community leaders volunteered as well.

“We couldn’t do this without all our public agencies help, especially the TWRA, they do so much,” Ball said. 

Sporting education abounded at the Fur Harvesters Association booth, as well at the fishing pond, the bow fishing booth and the many shooting education booths. 

It was quite the educational and fun day for more than 200 Campbell County youth.

Awards were handed out to the winners at 3 pm. Some of the big drawings included life time fishing/hunting licenses, fishing rods and reels, tackle, guns and more. 

Organizers said they “love putting on the yearly event for the children.” 

“We’re just so thankful for the support of this annual event. The sponsors, the parents and community volunteers come together each year to make it a good time for the kids,” Ball said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/15/2022-6AM)

Related