JAKES Day Sees Over 350 Youth Attend Event

  • John Varnell, one of the organizers of the Cleveland County JAKES Day held at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds Saturday morning, gives instruction to the hundreds of youth and parents who showed up for the event aimed at encouraging kids to get involved in the outdoors.
    John Varnell, one of the organizers of the Cleveland County JAKES Day held at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds Saturday morning, gives instruction to the hundreds of youth and parents who showed up for the event aimed at encouraging kids to get involved in the outdoors.
  • A young attendee tries her hand at flipping a fishing lure into a baggo board hole. The station was hosted by the University of Arkansas at Monticello Bass Club.
    A young attendee tries her hand at flipping a fishing lure into a baggo board hole. The station was hosted by the University of Arkansas at Monticello Bass Club.
  • John Varnell, one of the organizers for JAKES Day, prepares to begin giving away the hundreds of door prizes that were donated to the event. He estimated that more than $19,000 in prizes were given away, ranging from deer stands to guns to cross bows to rod and reel fishing combos and filled tackle boxes.
    John Varnell, one of the organizers for JAKES Day, prepares to begin giving away the hundreds of door prizes that were donated to the event. He estimated that more than $19,000 in prizes were given away, ranging from deer stands to guns to cross bows to rod and reel fishing combos and filled tackle boxes.
  • Matt Ingram, one of the many volunteers helping with JAKES DAY on Saturday at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Rison, assists a young attendee with lining up his shot at the turkey shoot station. Those attending were given the opportunity to shoot the target with a shotgun.
    Matt Ingram, one of the many volunteers helping with JAKES DAY on Saturday at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Rison, assists a young attendee with lining up his shot at the turkey shoot station. Those attending were given the opportunity to shoot the target with a shotgun.
    RISON - Last year's decision to move the Cleveland County JAKES Day event to the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Rison turned out to be a wise one as yet another record-breaking crowd was on hand Saturday to learn about the outdoors.John Varnell, one of the organizers, said more than 350 youth registered for the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) event that is designed to get young people interested in hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. Youth and their parents from the throughout the region attended, and there was even a school bus load of students from Pine Bluff that attended.Once the adults, vendors and volunteers working the event were included, Varnell estimated more than 600 people were on hand.JAKES is an acronym for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship. The purpose of the NWTF program is for "informing, educating and involving youth 17 and younger in wildlife conservation and the wise stewardship of our natural resources." The event is put on by the Cleveland County Cutters & Struttgers Chapter of the NWTF.The JAKES DAY itself includes a number of stations set around the grounds where youth learned about various outdoor activities ranging from hunting and fishing to wildlife and motorsports. The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission had several stations set up including its traveling aquarium that features a variety of fish from across Arkansas. Cane Creek State Park had a wildlife interpreter participate while the University of Arkansas at Monticello bass team allow youth an opportunity to test their skills in using a rod and reel to flip a bait into a cornhole board.The Wildman Race Track located in southern Jefferson County just north of the Cleveland County line had a large presence of race trucks at the event and also provided barbeque sandwiches for everyone who attended.David West with the Cleve-land County Cooperative Extension Service office had a station where youth tes...

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