The first of October started out as a cool, quiet, autumn weekend in Possum Hollow.   The quietness would soon be interrupted by laughter and cheers as more than 300 JAKES and their families invaded the fall air.

Zollman’s Pavilion near Lexington was the setting for the best JAKES event the Rockbridge Area Chapter has ever hosted. The event offered more than 26 hands-on activities for the participants. Classes ranged from a coloring contest for the youngest in attendance, to shooting a .50 cal. Barrett for the Xtreme JAKES!

There were opportunities for the angler as well. The Chapter stocked Buffalo Creek with 425 rainbow trout, including a few golden trout. Saturday night included a large bon fire complete with story telling and making s’mores.  All of the attendees were treated to lots of great food including over 1000 hot dogs, 20 deep fried turkeys, 500 chicken quarters and all the fixings.

The Rockbridge chapter’s Xtreme JAKES Committee did a great job helping with the event. The Xtreme JAKES committee held a special raffle to benefit a local nursing home. The proceeds from the raffle will purchase a Wii system and a flat screen TV for the residents.  The kids also made a video titled “Cooking with The Xtreme JAKES” featuring their unique recipe for Xtreme JAKES “Blue Smoke Cole Slaw”. 

Sunday afternoon families packed up their cars with the camping gear. As the families headed for home with the exhausted JAKES in tow, many of them were dreaming of how to apply their new skills to the great outdoors!