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KIDS
RODEO ANOTHER HUGE SUCCESS
(OVER 375 ENJOY GOOD WEATHER)
by
Steve McCadams
www.stevemccadams.com
Some 375 young anglers from four states joined a dedicated host of
volunteers and me for the third annual "Casting For A Cure" Kids Fishing
Rodeo at Carroll Lake last Saturday.
With the help of TWRA, good weather, hungry fish--there were three
catfish weighing over three pounds caught!--and enthusiastic youngsters,
it was another huge success.
Thanks to some 70 separate donors, every kid received a prize packet
whether they landed a fish or not. Some even earned big prizes of
bicycles, resort vacations, engraved plaques, tackle boxes, rods and
reels, and more. However, I think the memories will outlast whatever
prizes they took away.
In addition to sending them all home with something, including a big
smile and pleasant memory, we'll make a donation to the American Cancer
Society for approximately $8,000. That's about $1,500 more than last
year's contribution!
We made a $7,000 contribution at the rodeo to the American Cancer
Society's Carroll County North Relay For Life and another $1,000 will be
made to the Henry County Relay For Life Event from the Henry School
concession stand.
The event is rather special for me. While it takes a lot of time and
effort, each year I get to see some old friends and dig up some fond
memories of my childhood days spent at Carroll Lake.
While some of us are cancer survivors, we all have friends or family
that have been victims of this terrible disease.
Anyway, it was there I landed my first fish some 42-years ago, thanks
to a father and grandfather who used to take me fishing. Back then there
was the annual Jaycee fishing rodeo and I slipped up and won my age
bracket, thanks to a crappie, shellcracker, warmouth, and some starving
bluegill.
A few years past and the rodeo kind of faded away, taking with it the
opportunity for a lot of youngsters to enjoy and participate in the
popular sport.
Then, four years ago, while recovering from surgery and the news that
a dreadful monster called cancer had paid me a visit, I had time to mull
over several things.
I made a pledge to the big fisherman in the sky during that recovery
period. If he would let me see a few more sunsets then I would attempt to
help others beat this disease while mixing a little fellowship with his
work along the way.
It seemed only fitting to return a kids fishing rodeo to my boyhood
home where a lot of great times were had beneath the shady oaks and around
the lily pads of Carroll Lake.
So, I got to working on it and wondered if the community would support
it and how much, if any, interest we might have from young anglers. I'm
proud to say we've had over 1,300 kids participate in the rodeo since its
conception.
It has been a labor of love and working on the event has brought a lot
of folks together. I've seen old friends that now have kids of their own
who have participated in the rodeos. Some had never fished before but are
now "hooked on fishing", so to speak.
Kids remember most those things you do with them, not just for them.
Anyway, that's how this fishing story got started and not only have we
introduced hundreds of kids to the great outdoors but we've fought fish
and cancer at the same time.
Plans are already underway for next year's event. After all, I've made
a pledge and thus far, the big angler in the sky is delivering on his end.
A tip of the hat to all those parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and
others who took the time to bring the kids to the rodeo.
Steve McCadams
is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing
area and host of The Outdoor Channel's television series IN-PURSUIT. |
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