Fishing News - 10/20/02
NATIONAL YOUTH PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Six Young Anglers Win U.S. Savings Bonds In Fujifilm "Fish, Photograph & Release" Contest
KETCHUM, OK Printing in the large, straight-line letters that five-year-olds use, Lauren Rossi used the whole page to make her point. But it was a good point, well expressed, and it has earned her first place in her age category in the Fujifilm "Fish, Photograph & Release" (FPR) contest.
"I love to catch fish because it is fun," Lauren Rossi, 5, Norton, MA wrote. "Fish should be returned to the water so they can go back to their mom and dad."
As grand prize winner in the five to 10 year old category, Lauren won a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond in the Fujifilm FPR contest conducted during the 2002 Wal-Mart Kids All American Fishing Derbies.
Michelle O'Rourke, 13, Swanton, VT, was the other grand prize-winner, earning first place and a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond in the 11 to 16 year old age category. O'Rourke wrote that she liked to fish because she could spend time with her family and friends. Fish should be returned to the water, she wrote, "so they can grow and reproduce."
Jessica Fetters, 6, of E. Highgate, VT, was first runner-up and Austin Webb, 9, of Goodslettsville, TN, was second runner up in the five to 10 year old category. They won $500 and $250 U.S. Savings Bonds respectively.
In the 11 to 16 year old category the first runner up is Maribeth Jones, 12, Ridgeway, VA and the second runner up is Tyler Scott, 12, Highgate Center, VT. They were awarded a $500 U.S. Savings Bond and a $250 U.S. Savings Bond respectively.
Kids who participate in fishing as a recreational activity were encouraged to submit a photo of a fish they caught along with a written essay of 50 words or less. The topic was, "Why I love to fish and why fish should be returned to the water." Hooked on Fishing International (HOFI), which produces fishing derbies, formed a panel of judges to select the winners based on the quality and creativity of the photos and creativity of the essay.
In 2002, HOFI sanctioned more than 1,500 derbies in all 50 states for an estimated 250,000 kids from five to 16 years. The HOFI Web site, www.kids-fishing.com, proudly notes that it is the "Home of the World's Largest Kids' Fishing Program." The Web site also carries the names and
pictures of the finalists in the 2002 Fujifilm FPR Photo Contest. Winners and finalists were each awarded a Fujifilm QuickSnap one-time-use camera and a souvenir "FPR" T-Shirt.The 2003 season of the Kids All-American Fishing Derby will mark the 17th year that Hooked On Fishing International has sanctioned the celebrated youth program with the support of America's top companies, led by title sponsor Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Sponsoring brands for 2002 include Bar-S Foods Company, Berkley PowerBait, Dubble Bubble Bubble Gum, Eagle Claw, EverStart Batteries, FishingWorld.com, Frito-Lay, Fujifilm U.S.A., Laker Fishing Tackle, Kellogg's, Pepsi, Pradco Outdoor Brands, Strike King Lure Company, Southwest Airlines, Berkley Trilene, and Zebco. -more- About Fujifilm Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., Elmsford, NY, is the U.S. marketing subsidiary of Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, a leading manufacturer of imaging and information products.
For more information on Fujifilm products, consumers can call 800-800-FUJI or access the Fujifilm USA Web site at www.fujifilm.com.
About Hooked on Fishing International
Hooked On Fishing International has been bringing kids and fish together since 1987 through its Kids All-American Fishing Derby program. The events annually take place at more than 1,500 venues in all 50 states and have reached more than six million kids and parents. Web site at www.kids-fishing.com.
With the help of local volunteers, Hooked on Fishing International produces more than 1,500 derbies in all 50 states for approximately 250,000 young anglers. Adult groups interested in organizing a local derby in 2003 can get information from the HOFI web site - www.kids-fishing.com, or by requesting information via email at info@kids-fishing.com, or by writing Hooked On Fishing International, P O Box 660, Ketchum, OK 74349.
