Over 250 children and their teachers, parents and caretakers celebrated Dusty’s Day in big style at The Detention in Morrison Friday. The children came from all over the area including Warren, Coffee, Cannon and Grundy counties. The Dusty Elam Foundation is celebrating 20 years of community service with this annual event.
Dusty’s Day got started about 20 years ago when Coffee County youth Dusty Elam, 22, died in a motorcycle wreck. A MTSU junior at the time of the accident, he had been majoring in special education. Elam’s friends and family decided to celebrate his life by doing something special for children in need. Little did they know it would turn into such a big annual event popular with so many children and families.
According to Justin Cougar, Dusty Elam’s high school friend and board member of the current Dusty Elam Foundation, what started as a unique way to honor a friend has turned into an annual event benefitting all children in the area. “The special needs day was an off shoot we started about 8 years ago. Tomorrow (Saturday) the kids will number around 1,500 and we will celebrate on Elam Farm.” He knows Dusty would be pleased and proud.
The kids were running all around the busy center on Friday wearing wristbands and playing in the variety of bounce houses and game rooms. Laser tag and bumper cars were just some of the favorites along with face painting and balloon animals.
Dusty’s Day starts its annual celebratory route at Coffee County High School with buses full of children. All of them are identified as special needs children by schools and other agencies. The buses then make a parade to visit and pick up children at the different schools. “We Love Dusty’s Kids” signs and cheering crowds line the roads as they cruise their way around. Normally the merry train of celebrants ends at Elam Farm on Highway 53. This year they detoured to The Detention due to inclement weather. The kids sure didn’t seem to mind as they got to play games and enjoy fellowship in the party center. They got to run through inflatable tunnels to much cheering and fanfare as they entered the building.
Warren County’s Bobby Ray Elementary brought a big group to enjoy to festivities Friday. For Principal Monti Hillis, the day is extra poignant as Dusty Elam was her first cousin. “This is a wonderful event and the children look forward to it every year.”
Sharon Elam, Dusty’s mother, was present along with his brother Chris and sister Sarah Beth Elam. Chris’ daughter Reese, Dusty's niece, was there enjoying the fun as well.
“We are very honored and happy that so much good has happened for so many children,” said the Elams, surveying all the fun and frivolity going on around them. Despite the tragic origins, Dusty Elam’s memory goes forward in bringing so much joy to so many children.
This was the first time Dusty’s Day was rained out causing the parade of school buses to have their party at The Detention instead of Elam Farm in Coffee County.
Dusty’s Day is made possible by the generosity of over 200 local sponsors.
The event continued Saturday with gates opening at noon at the Elam Farm, located at 5223 Woodbury Highway. Tickets were sold at the gate for $25 each or five for $100. Kids were free. Families enjoy all-day fun including food, drinks, field day events, live music, silent and live auctions, games and bounce houses.
