A wide variety of entertainers will be coming to Wagner for the 605 Unity JAM, which is set for Sunday, June 11 at Wagner Lake. The event will provide lots of music, culture, food, arts and crafts, all with the focus being on the importance of developing greater unity in our community. A wide variety of activities for the entire family are being planned and and will help draw attention to the importance and value of working together to help make our community a better place to live and work for everyone.

The event will begin with a pre-event outdoor community worship service in the park. Following the service the event will then feature the musical talents of several music artists, such as The Kings of Polka, Kara Hanan, Kobe Jordan, Dakota Back Roads, Phil and Friends, Uncle Roy and The Boys and Indigenous. The order and times the artists will be performing will be announced just prior to the event date. In addition to lots of great music, the Unity JAM will also include a youth pow wow and a community walk around Wagner Lake to publicly show support for greater unity. One special activity will include community elders sharing their memories and wisdom in a small group setting at the lake gazebo. If you are an elder and willing to take 25 minutes out of your day to share your wisdom and stories please contact Dana Sanderson at 605-491-0804 as soon as possible and offer to share. A cardboard box boat regatta will also be featured, with an open class and business class competition, to help support “Catch the Wave” fundraising efforts. A kolache eating contest will be held, along with arts and craft vendors and food trucks for those who enjoy a variety of good food. A youth fishing clinic will also be held just prior to the youth fishing derby. There will also be cultural presentations and demonstrations throughout the day as well.

If you get the chance, pick up a copy of the “South Dakota Magazine” as this event will be listed in the national/international magazine. The magazine has over 165,000 subscribers, some of which will probably choose to visit Wagner to see what we are all about. Event posters will be going out to area communities this week to help create interest in the event. Ready or not, Wagner will have lots of eyes looking our way to see what the “605 Unity JAM” is all about, what Wagner Lake Park is and to see the Unity Buffalo Public Art Project at the park. We believe the event will draw attention to our community and the value of unity long after the event is over. It is hoped that everyone will begin to better understand the value of unity and look for ways to work together more than before as it clearly affects the growth and prosperity of our community as a whole. With so many communities in South Dakota struggling to survive, it is extremely important that every community leader looks down the road and into the future with positive ideas that will continually build a better future for all of the residents.