Dress code for this year’s North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy fundraiser seems a bit looser than usual.
Guests are encouraged to wear their best ‘farmhouse duds,? jeans, overalls, boots, and hats.
‘Whatever you hang out at the barn in,? said Katie Anderson, NOHLC executive director.
Wild Night Out is going country.
Plans for the evening, set for 6:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 5, include a pig roast with all the fixings, old-fashioned hoe down, and live and silent auctions, all at the Lazy J Ranch, 625 S. Hickory Ridge Road in Milford.
‘We had to go all the way out to Milford to find a barn big enough,? Anderson said. ‘And in this challenging economy, we wanted to lower the price and increase the fun ? people need a good, upbeat party.?
The location, which rotates thoughout northern Oakland County, also emphasizes the conservancy’s farmland preservation efforts.
‘Farmland is open space ? many farmers are considering selling land to developers,? she said. ‘That’s fine, but how about working with us to make it a conservation easement??
A conservation easement agreement prohibits housing development on the land, which is still owned by a private individual.
‘It benefits everyone,? Anderson said. ‘It reduces impervious surfaces, acts as a filter to keep water clean.?
The annual Wild Night benefits the conservancy’s efforts to protect water quality and quality of life in northwest Oakland County. The event is underwritten by Silverman Companies of Bingham Farms.
Russ Haddon of Holly is this year’s honorary chair. Haddon, 90, donated to the conservancy his 80-acre nursery farm as a conservation easement.
Items up for bid include: Wild and Rustic Week in New England; Wild Woods Safari Picnic in northwest Oakland County; Wild Wheels Adventure at Detroit Grand Prix; Wild About Up North at Bay Harbor Resort in Petoskey; Wild Grapes Old Mission Stomp at Green Parrot Resort in Belize; and many decorative items, artwork, spa services, and other recreational and nature experiences.
‘We’ll have the usual wildly unique items,? Anderson said.
For more information, call 248-846-6547 or visit www.nohlc.org.

Carolyn Wood of Independence Township in ‘farmhouse casual? attire, ready for Wild Night Out Goes Country this weekend. Photo submitted