Reclaiming futures cornhole tournament to be played in W’burg Saturday

If you’re a corn hole player or if you just want to do something to help a program designed to get kids off drugs, then you might want to visit Old Fashioned Trading Days Saturday morning.

The Seventh-Annual Reclaiming Futures Corn Hole Tournament will take place starting about 9 a.m. in the Whitley County Board of Educations’ parking lot.

All proceeds benefit Reclaiming Futures, formerly known as juvenile drug court, which helps teenagers in the court system get off drugs and stay in school.

“This is our major fundraiser event for Reclaiming Futures since our funding for juvenile drug court was cut about eight years ago. “Since that time we have run on donations,” said Whitley District Judge Cathy Prewitt who is helping organize the event.

Cumberland River Behavioral Health, formerly known as Cumberland River Comprehensive Care Center, provides the case managers for the program and is a huge partner with the Reclaiming Futures Program, Prewitt added.

“Cumberland River Behavioral Health is a large part of Reclaiming Futures. They provide services for the children who have substance abuse and mental health issues,” Prewitt said.

The annual corn hole tournament usually generates about $7,500, which goes towards providing incentives for Reclaiming Futures participants, such as a Christmas party and small gifts.

“We’ve learned that rewards work better than sanctions. If a child does something really good, it gets a reward. They still get sanctions but they get rewards for the good stuff. We use the money to buy gift cards, tickets to the movies and so forth,” Prewitt said.

“It’s just for extra things that otherwise we don’t have money for. Some of it goes in the bank for a rainy day. We have actually used some of it to help pay for treatment, which is very expensive.”

In addition to paying for rewards for the children, funding from the tournament also goes towards paying for drug screening services.

While this is the seventh year for the tournament, it is the second time it has been held in conjunction with Old Fashioned Trading Days.

There are three divisions that participants can take part in for the cornhole tournament.

The entry fee is $20 per two-person team in the open division and $75 per team for a two to four player team in the celebrity division. There is a $150 entry fee in the corporate division, which covers a six-person entry.

The event normally draws about 50 – 100 participants.

Prewitt said many of the corporate sponsors don’t actually participate and this is when organizers let the children from drug court play, but they aren’t eligible for the cash prizes.

“We will be out bright and early. I invite all cornhole players to come out and enjoy the fun,” Prewitt added. “People can come and sign up on the day of the event.”

Winners in each division will receive cash prizes.

The tournament is sponsored by Reclaiming Futures in the Cumberlands, Whitley County Tourism and the Whitley County Fiscal Court.

Anyone wanting to make a donation to the Reclaiming Futures program or to register a team can send a check made payable to Reclaiming Futures. It can be mailed to

Reclaiming Futures at Cumberland River Behavioral Health Attention: Greta Baker, P.O. Box 568, Corbin, KY 40702.