Tricia Williamson, the lodge’s administrator and organizer of the event, said the event is a way for the Jeep community to come together and raise money for the Valued Veterans Program.
LIMA — Jeep owners showed off their cars at the Moose Lodge #199 for the inaugural Duck Duck Moose Jeep Jam on Saturday.
The car show featured Jeeps decorated in various fashions, with many showing off their personalities in their designs. Tricia Williamson, the lodge’s administrator and organizer of the event, said the event is a way for the Jeep community to come together and raise money for the Valued Veterans Program.
Williamson said many people in the Jeep community are veterans or related to veterans, so the cause is important to them.
“Ducking,” or leaving rubber ducks on Jeeps is a trend among Jeep owners to show the owner that someone likes their car, Williamson said. The practice is celebrated on social media with the hashtags “duckduckjeep” or “duckingjeeps.”
Scott Horicman, who owns a blue Jeep with his wife, said since the two have had the vehicle, they’ve participated in the traditions with which it comes. He said car shows always draw people out, but Jeep shows are different.
“You go to a car show, you’re going to see a ‘vette; it’s stock,” Horicman, of Columbus Grove, said. “It’s all about being stock. These people express themselves.”
Joyce Horicman said the Jeep is a conversation starter, with a sense of community already there when she meets anyone else with the same car. She said people often ask how she put lights in the wheels or about other decorations.
Scott Horicman said the Jeep is both his and his wife’s dream vehicle, and he bought it two years ago when he saw it at the dealership while taking his car for service.
Sandra Coleson, who owns a black Jeep with pink zebra stripes and other decorations, said she’s had her car for about four years — after her son graduated from high school. She’s wanted the car ever since she was young.
Coleson, of Ottawa, said she loves participating in Jeep-oriented events to meet new people with whom she has much in common. She recently went to a Toledo Duck Duck Jeep event, and is glad to have one to attend closer to home.
Coleson said she wasn’t hoping for a win in any particular category and is instead there for the people.
“If I win something, I win something,” Coleson said. “If not, I don’t. I’m here to have fun and meet different people.”
Williamson, who owns a bright blue Jeep with large tires, said winners of 10 separate categories — cleanest Jeep, best sound system, best Jeep club, muddiest Jeep, most unique, best themed, biggest tires, best mods and the fan favorite — receive plaques with the Duck Duck Moose Jeep Jam logo. She said the lodge plans to hold this event annually.
