Celebrating Barnegat Bay Traditions

Ocean County Commissioner Deputy Director Jennifier Bacchione and Commissioner Robert S. Arace, liaison to Ocean County Parks and Recreation, attended the 44th Annual Old Time Barnegat Bay Decoy and Gunning Show on Sept. 26 and 27 at Tip Seaman County Park and the Tuckerton Seaport.

The weekend celebrated the rich traditions and heritage of the Barnegat Bay, with decoy carving, duck calling and other contests, along with the presentation of several special awards.

The Hurley Conklin Award, presented to individuals who have carried on the traditions of the Barnegat Bay, was awarded this year to Joan Seibert, Anthony Hillman, Terry McNulty and Herb Heinrichs.

The Michael T. Mangum Hall of Fame Award was presented to Joe Smith and Stanley H. “Bud” Seaman for their contributions to advancing the purpose of the Old Time Barnegat Bay Decoy and Gunning Show. The award honors Michael T. Mangum, a longtime Ocean County Parks employee and former Director of Parks and Recreation, who was one of the founders of the show and was recognized for his commitment to preserving and sharing the traditions of the Barnegat Bay.

A special thank you to the Ocean County Parks and Recreation staff, as well as all of the vendors, exhibitors and participants who helped make this year’s show a success despite less-than-ideal weather. Their dedication helps ensure this longstanding tradition continues to bring people together and preserve the rich heritage of the Barnegat Bay for generations to come.