This is the first part in a series of articles that I wrote as an employee at the Stewart Webster Journal Patriot-Citizen. The article was published in the Sept. 16, 2010, edition on the front page and continued on page nine with accompanying photos.

Part One of the Freedom Festival Series

Josh Gracin and Colt Ford performed at Freedom Outdoor Adventures’ first Freedom Festival on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. Hundreds of local country music fans gathered at Alaga Plantation in Richland, Ga., for the outdoor music festival, benefitting Freedom Outdoor Adventures.

Freedom Outdoor Adventures is a nonprofit organization founded in April 2009 by Brandon Moak, a soldier who created the organization to “assist wounded soldiers, veterans, their families and children get back into the outdoors and enjoy the sport of hunting.”

After suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Moak discovered that his time spent hunting had a calming, therapeutic effect on his symptoms. He was then curious to discover if the outdoors had a similar effect on other wounded soldiers. Tim Sickel, a severely wounded soldier, was the first that Moak took hunting in the winter of 2007. After taking many other soldiers on hunts, the White Tail Institute wrote an article about Moak that eventually led him to create the nonprofit.

According to Moak, the primary purpose of Freedom Festival was to “raise awareness [about Freedom Outdoor Adventures] so that people know that we’re out here, especially in this small county and community.”

“That’s our biggest thing; raising awareness. The idea [for Freedom Festival] came along, obviously, because of September 11th, being in remembrance of [what happened on] 9/11,” Moak said.

The afternoon featured performances by local bands Triple Threat, Aces & Eights, and Soul Junky. Later, Gracin’s energetic performance kicked off the evening of music. Both Gracin and Ford were available between shows to sign autographs and take photos with those who had backstage passes. Ford concluded the day’s activities with a diverse set list, ranging from southern rock to hip-hop.

He also played many of his own crowd favorites, featuring the simple, everyday themes that he is famous for, such as country living and dirt roads. Gracin joined Ford onstage for “All About Y’all,” a song dedicated to every man’s frustration and infatuation with their female counterpart. Sunny Ledfurd, who has collaborated on songs with Ford in the past, also joined Ford onstage later in the show.

Following the performance, Ford signed autographs and took photos with fans, saying, “I’m a big boy and you can bet I get tired up there, but I…visit with people…because I have the best fans in the world. I’m inspired by their energy and I want to give them everything I’ve got.”

Gracin also expressed his appreciation for the fans that have stuck with him and his music over the years. He is excited to have a new album coming out “hopefully early next year.”

To learn more about Freedom Outdoor Adventures, look for part two of the Freedom
Festival series in the Stewart Webster Journal Patriot-Citizen next week or go to
www.myfreedomoutdoors.org.