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Oatland cooking up pecan bake-off
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Oatland Island Wildlife Center (formerly Oatland Island Education Center) is looking for people who love food, especially pecans. The “Anything Pecan Bake-Off” will be held during Oatland Island Wildlife Center’s annual Cane Grinding and Harvest Festival which will be held on Nov. 10 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

“The Harvest Festival is a celebration of Georgia’s diverse agricultural economy and history”, says Annie Quinting, a teacher at Oatland Island Wildlife Center.

Contestants in the “Anything Pecan Bake-Off” will be admitted free to the festival.  There are four categories in the competition: (each category is limited to 15 entries) adults (over 18), children (12-18 years), parent (or grandparent) and child (7-12 years) team, and cane syrup (and pecan) dishes.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners in each category. Entry forms for the contest are available by calling 898-3980 or visiting Oatland’s Web site at: www.oatlandisland.org/events/pecanbakeoff.htm. Entry forms must be submitted by Nov. 9.

The traditional old fashion cane grinding with the horse-drawn mill will still be the center attraction for the event, but other food and harvest related demonstrations, samplings, games and crafts for young and old will be on hand. Enjoy this festive fall celebration with music, pony rides and hay rides.

The Second Harvest Food Bank will be conducting a food drive for the needy. Visitors can bring non-perishable food items and receive a free general admission pass for a future visit to Oatland.

Admission to the festival is $5 per adult, $3 per child (4-17), seniors and military and free for children under 4 years old.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center is a unit of the Savannah-Chatham County School System and serves as a field study site for students throughout the region. It features the two-mile “Native Animal Nature Trail” that winds through maritime forest, freshwater wetlands and salt marsh habitats and links many native animal exhibits such as wolves, black bear and cougar.

Oatland is also open to the public for self guided tours seven days a week from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. except holidays.