Big Announcement at Noon at the Carson Hughes Memorial Ride

“Be Like Carson” – Enjoy Life and Help Others

(Osgood, Ind.) - In his senior year at Jac-Cen-Del High School in Osgood, Carson Hughes was voted Best Smile, Best Day Brightener and Most Likely to Become Famous.

He was an honor roll student, a member of the National Honor Society, and a three-sport Jac-Cen-Del Varsity Eagle, playing soccer, baseball, and basketball. He planned to attend Purdue University to study Industrial Design.

He was also a self-taught nature photographer who astonished viewers, even professionals, with his patience, style, and deep love for landscapes, birds and animals that was evident in every photo.

At 18, he had the confidence to set up a booth at Bricktoberfest in Osgood with the plan to sell framed prints of his photos. He used his own money to make the prints and then borrowed from his parents to buy the frames. They loaned him their credit card and hoped he wouldn’t get disappointed if shoppers didn’t value his work like they did. They needn’t have worried. He sold out and took orders for more.

On March 15, 2024, the unthinkable happened. Carson, whose life was defined by kindness, faith, determination, and a love of the outdoors, drowned while doing what he loved - taking photos near Versailles Lake at Versailles State Park.

Those qualities now shape the work being done in his memory.

The Carson Hughes Foundation, Inc. was created to honor the causes he cared about and to carry his legacy forward in practical, heartfelt ways throughout Southeast Indiana.

It provides scholarships for Ripley County high school seniors, supports Jac-Cen-Del School athletics, encourages young people to explore photography and nature, and funds conservation projects that help others experience the natural world Carson loved so much.

His parents also organize Grief Hikes on the 2nd Sunday of every month. The message “You don’t have to walk the journey alone” brings people experiencing loss together in a supportive environment.

The recent construction of Carson’s Observation Point near Versailles Lake transforms a meaningful place into a peaceful community area where people can enjoy the water, watch for wildlife through a spotting scope, and pause at an interpretive sign showcasing Carson’s photos.

One of its most meaningful efforts, Carson’s Bucket List Adventures, is designed to send a family each year on an all-expense-paid national park trip, helping them experience the landscapes, wildlife, and memories that inspired Carson’s photography and love for adventure.

The foundation, guided by his parents Jason and Mandy Hughes, uses the proceeds from photography sales, calendars, memorial events, and community fundraisers to support initiatives that reflect who Carson was.

One of the main fundraisers, the Carson Hughes Memorial Ride, takes place on Saturday, September 12. The event is a fun ride through beautiful countryside, and any street-worthy vehicle is welcome. Registration is open from 10 a.m. to noon at the Delaware Fire Department, 5452 N. St. Rd. 129, Osgood, IN 47037. The cost is $30 per unit and includes one meal ticket; additional riders are free, and extra meal tickets are $15. The parade of riders departs at noon and returns by 4 p.m. after stops at Hog Rock at Wippel’s Tavern in Sunman and Eight Top Grill in Guilford.

From 4 to 7 p.m., the public is invited to enjoy an evening of family fun with live music, food trucks, a bouncy house, raffles, and split the pot. All proceeds will help continue the work of the Carson Hughes Foundation.

You can also order 2027 calendars in person at the 3rd Annual Carson Hughes Memorial Ride on September 12 or at Bricktoberfest on September 19.

“Be Like Carson” has become a familiar motto in Ripley County and beyond. For those who knew him, it means slowing down to see beauty in the world, discovering your personal passion, and using your talents to help others.