Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Cherokee County Farm Bureau and the Grand River Dam Authority recently purchased more than 200 life jackets for the public to use free of charge as they enjoy the Illinois River during the 2025 recreation season.
The coalition, along with the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce, worked to update the loaner jacket program along the popular Illinois River corridor in Cherokee County to provide the quality flotation devices to help prevent accidental drownings as the summer recreation season begins.
The life jackets were delivered to the GRDA Scenic Rivers Operations headquarters near Tahlequah Thursday, May 15, with representatives from Cherokee County Farm Bureau, GRDA and the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce on hand to unload the safety equipment and begin the process of distributing the loaner life jackets at stations along the river.
“We are excited every season to see so many people come out and float the Illinois River,” said Jared Skaggs, supervisor of scenic rivers and public access areas for GRDA. “It’s a really popular destination, and we’re happy to see so many families come out and friends come out. Ultimately, our top priority is to make sure people are safe on the river.”
The new jackets are trimmed in bright orange to improve visibility on the river and are sized to ensure outdoor recreationists of all sizes have a jacket that fits properly. A whistle is attached to each jacket in case of an emergency situation, and the jackets are each adorned with Farm Bureau and GRDA logos.
The life jackets will be made available at six different loaner stations along the Illinois River corridor near Tahlequah for river users who either do not have a life jacket of their own or may have forgotten a life jacket. The jackets are intended for day use by the public and can be returned to any station along the river after use.
“We’re proud of this partnership, and it was a need we could fill,” said Kelli Campbell, Cherokee County Farm Bureau board member. “I want people to understand – because I’ve personally lost someone on the river – that it is not like checking in at an amusement park. I want people to come here and enjoy the river and not take home a sad story like so many of us know.”
Skaggs said that 80% of drownings occur when life jackets are not worn and that wearing a life jacket while out on the water is a simple way to stay safe during the summer outdoor recreation season. He said Oklahoma state law requires children who are 12 years old or younger to wear a life jacket while on the water, and adults must each have access to a life jacket while on the water.
“For us to have a loaner program to help facilitate life jacket awareness is fantastic,” Skaggs said. “Having a life jacket available is really the best way we can make sure that when people bring their families to the river that they’re able to go home at the end of the day.”
