Youth, seniors wanted for the first “Core Connections” event Sunday at Medicine Lodge

On Sunday, Sept. 21 the community is invited to Medicine Lodge for a picnic lunch and apple picking.    It is the first of the Core Connections series of the Basin Heritage Initiative. One of the goals of the events is to bring senior citizens and youth together. The event is free. 

Riverside graduate Danae Hagemeister Bales recently moved back to Basin with a vision to build community connections across the generations. Bales created a non-profit called Basin Heritage Initiative. 

Bales said she wants “to be able to bridge the gap between generations, build stronger community, instill happiness, preserve some of the wonderful traditions that can only be shared by doing them and learning together. Part of our heritage are these traditions that we have seemed to lose with so much technology in our everyday lives. We no longer learn from someone older how to bake their pies or best recipes or from an organization cookbook with all those lovely ladies tried and true recipes, we just get on Pinterest. But we miss out on the love and care that’s taught in doing it together. And human connection is created in the process. We need that more. Part of keeping our heritage and culture as a small town is sense of community.”  

The Core Connections events are centered on apples. She explained: “I hope this first series sets a good core example of how we can connect with each other across generations. If we can’t find a common bond in being in nature together, baking apple pies and also coming together to celebrate, we are in a world of hurt. I think it’s a good first step towards remembering who we are and moving forward to not lose that. We have to show it’s important for multi generations to connect in a community.” 

For Sunday, Sept. 21, those wanting to go to Medicine Lodge should meet at Basin Park to carpool at 12:15 p.m.  Bring your own lunch. Once there, youth will pick apples while senior citizens get to enjoy a beautiful day in nature. At 3 p.m. Heather Jolley, superintendent of Medicine Lodge State Park, will give a presentation about the history of the apple orchards. She will also provide a delicious Dutch oven apple dessert for all attendees. 

Bales explained, “We will head back to Basin at 4 p.m. Apples will be stored for next week’s apple baking adventure, apple pie auction and chili cook-off fundraiser. Prizes for youth teams who pick the most apples. To register for this event please call Bales at 307-275-0419.  If you are needing transportation, please let Bales know so she can arrange it.” 

 If you are not able to attend this event but still wish to bake an apple pie for an upcoming pie contest, please call Danae and she will get apples and pie tins to you for no charge. 

On Sept. 28, Bales hopes to find a location where youth and senior citizens can meet to make the pies. Bales expounded, “Our youth and senior citizens will group up in teams from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Our senior bakers will be teaching the time treasured task of baking a pie from scratch to their youth teammates to be later voted on, auctioned off, as well as pies for the Great Apple Pie Bake Off and Chili Cook Off fundraiser for Basin Food Pantry (They have a great need for meat).  Each team needs to have a creative name and who the bakers are. You must register your team by September 24”. 

The pie bake-off and chili cook-off is Sunday, Sept. 28 at the Basin City Arts Center.  There will be cash and prizes for first, second and third place winners for both.  The chili cook off is open to businesses and individuals. The event dinner includes apple pie a la mode, chili from the contestants, beverages and live music entertainment.  Individual tickets are $10.  A family of four is $35. To purchase tickets for the fundraiser dinner stop by the Republican Rustler, South Big Horn Senior Center or see Danae at SBHC Water District Office from 1 p.m.-5 p.m.  Monday through Friday. All proceeds  benefit the Basin Food Bank.

Please call Danae Bale to enter your team for the pie bake off or as a chili cook off contestant. She is also looking for community sponsors and can be reached by calling 307-275-0419.