LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – The annual Jake’s Day, a day that involved hundreds of people, began a lot earlier than 8 am this past Saturday.  See Charlie Hutson’s photos HERE.    “We start registration June 1 each year with a goal of 200 youngsters, and we take the first 230-250 registered in knowing some will cancel and not attend,” said Jamie Ball with Jake’s Day and the Ball Farm Event Center.  As many as a couple of hundred of kids called last minute after the event had already filled up.

Ball points out that nearly 700 people were on the grounds Saturday, counting kids, volunteers, parents and other adults. She is quick to add, “We could not pull off an event of this caliber without the help of our volunteers.  We had 222 kids participate.”

Even though Ball would love to host a 1,000 children, she noted that at that number, it just would not be a quality event.  All involved with Jake’s Day take pride in the event being one-on-one instruction so the kids learn from an instructor and hopefully retain what they learn. Ball’s hope is to peak these kids interest prompting them to ask their parents to take them fishing or hunting in the future.

Applications are mailed each year to all previous participants. New participants can obtain an application from any of Pine Mountain Longbeards Committee Member. Applications can also be picked up after June 1 at La Follette Mine Supply and at The Sport Shop in La Follette.

Ball invites the community to join the Jake’s Day Committee and help with this event as well as other events the Longbeards host throughout the year. The committee meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm at Ball Farm Event Center. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/21/2019-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)

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