DOBSON — At Jammin’ Wingfest, it’s not just about good cooking and live music. It’s about raising money and awareness for a program that helps kids turn their lives around.

In its fourth year, the bluegrass music festival was held at Fisher River Park on Saturday to benefit Camp E-Mun-Talee.

Kathi Grenough, Camp E-Mun-Talee director, said, “But it’s not just about raising money. It’s about raising awareness.”

The event ran from 3 to 8 p.m. and featured food, bluegrass music and a silent auction. Entry was $5, and all of this went to help the camp pay for camp operations and supplies. Proceeds from the food sales and silent auction also went directly to the camp.

The fest featured more than just wings to eat. There were also hot dogs, fried pies, ice cream and sodas for sale. People sat at picnic tables and ate while listening to the bluegrass music.

Four bands played in the Edward Jones Amphitheater in the park: Hickory Flats, Double Overtime, The Foothills Band and Round Peak Ramblers. The bands did not charge the camp anything to perform.

Sue Johnson, a non-resident counselor with the camp, helps organize the music for the event each year. “It’s just good bluegrass music,” she said. “That’s what this area is all about — the Appalachian music.”

Herman Edwards of Lowgap has been coming to the annual event for three years now.

“I enjoy the music, and it’s close to home,” Edwards explained.

Last year, the event drew a crowd of 250 people and raised $7,000. This year, the estimated attendance number was only 150.

Grenough said, “It’s low ... I think it’s maybe just the threat of rain.”

But the rain held off and the event still raised close to $7,000 for the camp.

“I think the auction items really took us over the edge and the general donations from people in the community,” Grenough remarked.

This year’s silent auction had more than 40 donated items for sale, with everything from a carport to a plane ride to wood carvings. Wall’s Nursery also donated flowers to be sold. Johnson, music organizer, said she believes the silent auction may be the biggest drawing card for the event. She said they see many people that come back each year to bid on items.

David Brock, camp woodshop teacher, always donates carvings to be sold. Auction workers said his items are always a big hit. His wood carving work has even been featured in Wood Carving Illustrated.

Edwards has won bidding on four of Brock’s walking sticks through the years. He said he believes in supporting the event.

“It’s good for the kids that they look after and take care of. They do a good job with them,” Edwards commented.

E-Mun-Talee, which means “he overcomes” in the Muskokee Indian language, is a camp that is part of the Eckerd Youth Alternatives Outdoor Therapeutic Program. This program helps thousands of youth overcome their troubled pasts. Camp E-Mun-Talee is open to at-risk boys from the ages of 10 to 17. The boys generally stay at the camp, located on 900 acres in Lowgap, for 10 to 12 months.

Brian Matlock began as a camp counselor in Florida with the program and now serves as a family worker. He said, “We don’t fix everything, but we give them the tools.”

Matlock said as of 2000, the program had a success rate of 72 to 73 percent. This meant that within one year of graduating from the program the youth hadn’t reoffended and was in school or had a job.

“It’s just a beautiful thing to see someone come to camp so hardened ... and then turn it around,” Matlock said.

Grenough said the camp will continue holding a wingfest each year to benefit the camp and its efforts to improve the lives of at-risk youth. She said the next wingfest will take place sometime next spring or fall.

“We’re a nonprofit so we need all the support we can get from the county,” Grenough said.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or at 719-1952.