Tenth annual Jam at the Dam a success

OAKLAND MILLS - The Friends of Henry County Conservation said goodbye to summer with a BBQ contest and jam at the dam in Oakland Mills.

Fourteen competitors from across the state set up their tents and served the over 250 guests that came to enjoy the park and the evening. The contest is a recent edition to the now 10-year-old event; however, most competitors have been to the park before. Those who have, spread the word to their friends and encouraged new people to come and enjoy.

Brandon Wilson and Jesse Forquer, of Houghton, joined the competition for the first time at the urging of their friends. Usually they work together but on Friday, they each had their own tent in order to try out new recipes. Forquer, an avid hunter, was glad to hear the fundraiser was for the betterment of the park because conservation is a subject close to his heart.

The jam was a fundraiser to get new LED lights for the bridge. It is currently lit with white lights but the friends group would like to purchase new LED lights that will shine down into the water and light it up. Friends of Henry County Conservation President Steve Mendenhall said the lights will change colors with the season and feels they are another way to encourage people to come to the parks.

'This is kind of the premier park of Henry County,” he said. 'Part of our goal is to get people to enjoy what we've got.” He thinks the history of the park and nature center on site are huge assets to not only the park but the county. The 10th annual end-of-summer party was designed to be a family-friendly event that would encourage guests to spend the day enjoying what Henry County has to offer.

Vice President of the Friends of Henry County Conservation, Monty Stark, agreed and said he was glad to see kids playing and enjoying the area. 'A lot of our mission is just getting people outside and enjoying,” he said. 'I think it's important to get children outside because there's better things to do.”

Board member Robb Perrenoud said his son spent the entire day fishing, and was glad to see so many families coming out to enjoy. The day began at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast for campers and continued with projecting the Iowa game on a screen, a live band and a corn hole tournament in addition to the barbecue contest. He said that reminding people what Henry County parks have to offer is the whole idea for the night. 'The goal is to get people who care about the community and conservation into the park, he said. 'It gives everybody something to enjoy.”