About 200 young anglers turned out for the annual Kewanee Park District and Oldeen Family Kids Fishing Rodeo on Saturday at Windmont Park.
Parks Director Andrew Dwyer said the park district ran out of free T-shirts that were passed out to participants pretty quickly.
“The weather cooperated. It was very nice out and the fish were really biting,” he said.
Last week, 1,350 pounds of channel catfish were added to the park’s lagoon and paid for by the Oldeen family, who sponsors the event each year. Among those catfish were five albino catfish and the lucky kid to fish one out would receive $20. As far as Dwyer knows, the albino fish eluded capture, but several volunteers spotted a few of them swimming near the north end of the pond.
Dwyer said the record was set by a young boy who pulled out a 26 and three-quarter inches long fish.
Other winners were awarded for the biggest fish caught by a girl, the smallest fish caught by both a boy and girl. In addition, two bicycles, donated by Walmart, were handed out.
Dwyer said the day was a success and gave credit for the event to Joe Desmit and his crew of volunteers who put in countless hours leading the event, as well as the Oldeen family, who purchase the fish used to stock the pond each year and continue to support youth activities at the park.
In addition to Walmart, who donates every year, Dwyer thanked the following sponsors of this year’s rodeo.
Ron’s Hair Center
Glass Guy- Sam and Gina Peach
Dianne and Dorce Dedecker
State Bank of Toulon
Jo Jo’s Convenient Store-Kenny Ryan
FTO-Mike Galli
Cernovich’s Auto & Truck- Kim Cernovich and Rhonda Lafollette
Lewis Auto Body- Rich Lewis
Save-A-Lot- Everett Whitcher
Vandevelde Wellness Center- Chad Vandevelde
Farmers Insurance- Amber Patch-Troxell
Guppy’s Lake- Donnie Grabbe
Legion Post 31- Jerry Thompson
Mark and Nancy DeSmit
Family of Jerry Steltenpohl
