MATTHEW BURNETTE, Staff Writer

Celebrating its 21st year, Dusty Elam Day offered two days of fun and community for Coffee County.

On May 9, over 300 children with special needs were bussed from Coffee County Central High School where they then got to participate in a parade through Manchester where locals lined the streets to celebrate them.

The participants were then brought to the Elam family farm off of Woodbury Highway for a day of fun free of charge featuring inflatables, carnival-style games, field events and more.

On May 10, a fundraising event was held, also at the farm, featuring the same activities as the previous day in addition to live music and a live and silent auction to raise money for the Dusty Elam Foundation.

The event is held in honor of Dusty Elam who aspired to be a special education teacher before his untimely passing in 2004.

Chris Elam, Dusty’s brother, says the event’s progress has been great to watch.

“It’s awesome to see how well it’s grown and just keeps getting bigger and bigger,” he said.

Even though the event takes a lot of work and effort, Elam says the smiles make it worth it.

“As soon as this one’s over, we start working on the next,” he explained. “You’ve gotta plan and book stuff and things like that, but when you see these kids’ faces, that’s what makes you keep going.”

“None of this would even be able to take place if it wasn’t for the people in the community,” he added. “We live in a great place, and I think it’s the best place in the world. It’s amazing how they’ve taken us in and helped us put a smile on these kids’ faces.”

A number of Coffee County Central High School students volunteered at the event, many of whom play sports at CCCHS. They assisted by helping coordinate the field events, running the various games on-site, and serving food as well as other tasks.

Senior softball star Jalyn Moran, who manned one of the inflatables, says she was asked through her sports team to volunteer for the event.

“Softball asked us, and I was like ‘I would love to,’” she said. “Seeing all the kids have so much fun, it’s awesome. It really is.”

On hand for both days was local balloon animal extraordinaire Justin Reed who made his fifth appearance at the event.

Reed, known as the “Balloon Dude” for his now two decades of balloon making experience, recalled learning about it over the phone with Chris Elam who found him through a mutual acquaintance

“He called me and said, ‘Hey we need somebody to come out and do it’ and told me about the event and I fell in love with it over the phone, and I said, ‘I am there!’” he explained. “Now it is marked off on next year’s calendar already that I’m going to be here.”

Seeing the attendee having a good time, especially on Friday, is what Reed considers his favorite part of the event.

“Really, it’s just their day and they get to get into it,” he said. “It is just the happiest place on Earth. Disney has nothing on Dusty’s Day.”