BAKER CITY — A few years ago — in 2006, to be exact — Whit Deschner and his neighbor, Tom Heriza, looked at a salt block and saw a unique piece of art.

Deschner knew Baker County had a lot of salt blocks, set out on ranches and rangeland for both livestock and wildlife.

So he devised an event to showcase these works sculpted by unlikely artists and also raise money for the Parkinson Center at Oregon Health and Science University.

Deschner was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2000.

The Great Salt Lick Contest and Auction has happened every year since 2007, with a break during the pandemic. It returns on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Churchill School, 3451 Broadway St.

“There’s been a lot of interest from people coming from out of town and out of state,” Deschner said.

Viewing starts at 5:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “Bringing Agriculture to Culture.”

Deschner said this year’s special speaker is Dr. Joseph Quinn, director of the OHSU Parkinson Center and Movement Disorders Program.

Mib Dailey is, as always, the auctioneer.

Since the first event in 2007, the Great Salt Lick has raised $165,000 for the Parkinson Center at OHSU.

In addition to the salt blocks, a print by the late Jerry Kencke has been donated to support the cause. Kencke, who specialized in photographing the western lifestyle, died in 2019. A retrospective of his work was featured in June 2021 at Crossroads Carnegie Art Center.

This framed piece measures 4 feet tall and 5½ feet wide. It is titled “Parting Ways,” and was shot with 35mm film.

In addition to the auction portion of the night, more than $1,000 in cash prizes will be awarded in several categories to those who entered salt blocks. All prize money is donated by businesses and individuals in the community.

“People sure have been generous this year,” Deschner said.

The contest has garnered widespread attention over the years. It was named the best Philanthropic Event by the Oregon Festivals and Events Association, and has appeared on NPR’s “Weekend Edition” and Oregon Public Broadcasting’s “Oregon Art Beat.” It’s also been featured by Ripley’s Believe It or Not and the Smithsonian’s website, and in art museums in Chicago, Vancouver, B.C., and the Guggenheim in Los Angeles.

In downtown Baker City, a larger-than-life bronze salt lick at Court Plaza honors the homegrown event. This piece was supported by the Ford Family Foundation.