Although the Great Delta Bear Affair committee decided that they were unable to host a festival during October, due to the lack of infrastructure in downtown Rolling Fork since the tornado, several outreach events were held at other venues.
Traditionally several events are held during the month including an elementary Story Walk, 4th grade Youth Education Day, delivering teddy bears to the Children’s Hospital in Jackson, and the Bear Bash.
Over 100 teddy bears were delivered to Children’s of Mississippi and additionally teddy bears were taken to residents that are back home in the Sharkey Issaquena Nursing Home in Rolling Fork.
Black bear biologist for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Anthony Ballard gave a presentation on black bears in Mississippi as a part of Mississippi’s Lower Delta Partnership’s Lower Delta Talks series on October 8. Ballard updated participants on current bear activity in the state and especially in the Delta.
On October 16, the story Mother Bruce, by Ryan Higgins came to life on the Bear Track in Rolling Fork. Children read the story as they walked the track and had interactive sessions about black bears, birds, eggs and nests, honey bees, geese and migration. They also were able to “fish for salmon”, try their luck with a slingshot, exercise, and play on a “beach”. Over 150 elementary aged children along with teachers and parents enjoyed the interactive story walk. This free event was open to everyone.
Fourth Grade Youth Education Day was held at the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center near Onward. 350 4th graders and their teachers rotated through 9 stations staffed by conservation educators and visited the interpretive museum at the center. They also learned about raptors with a presentation from Freedom Ranch Wildlife Rescue Center and watched a movie telling on President Roosevelt’s famous black bear hunt that led to the naming of stuffed toy bears as teddy bears. The Sharkey and Issaquena counties Soil and Water commissioners treated everyone at Ed Day to a hot dog lunch. Youth Education Day organizer, Jackie Kerr, said that “This is such a great day for the students to learn about wildlife, conservation, safety and Sharkey County’s role as the birthplace of the teddy bear.”
Finally on October 24, the Bear Bash was held at the Third Street home of Lynne Moses. The Bear Bash has been a fundraiser for Bear Affair events for 18 years. This ticketed party includes a catfish dinner, bingo and a silent auction. Everyone attending enjoyed the evening, and money raised will fund future outreach and festival events.
LDP and Bear Affair coordinator, Meg Cooper said, “We are so appreciative of all the children, teachers, and friends that participated in our events. We also are so thankful for the over 100 volunteers that worked events and helped everything run smoothly. We did what we could this year and hope we can do more as the city begins to move forward with its reconstruction.”
