It’s time for the Annual Kewanee Park District/Oldeen Roofing Fishing Rodeo at Windmont Park in Kewanee! This Saturday, June 3, 2023, from 8 AM to 12 PM, kids 16-years-old and younger can enter the annual fishing rodeo for a chance at a trophy and prizes. Registration is at Windmont Park at. 7 AM the morning of the rodeo. The pond will be stocked with fish on Thursday, June 1st, so there will be NO fishing allowed from Thursday afternoon until the fishing rodeo begins on Saturday. The month of June is reserved for kids 16-years-old and younger only but adults are allowed to assit young children when needed.
The Kewanee Park District/Oldeen Roofing Fishing Rodeo is an annual event that started around 30 years ago. Ron Oldeen from R.A. Oldeen Roofing in Kewanee stocks the lake at Windmont Park each year with catfish ranging from 1-3 pounds each. For the past 2 years, Mr. Oldeen stocked the lake with 3,000 pounds of fish. The fishing rodeo was started with the idea to teach kids how to catch, clean and cook fish.
Trophies are awarded to the following categories: Future Fisherman, Most Fish Caught and Biggest Fish Caught. There is a casting contest for the following age groups: 7-years-old and under, 8 to 10-years-old, and 11-years-old and older. The first 100 children to register will receive a t-shirt. Prizes, such as fishing poles and lures, are provided by Farm King and Walmart. There is no limit to the number of children that can participate. “The Fishing Rodeo continues to be a great success each year because of the hard work, dedication and donations of time and materials from everyone involved” said the Kewanee Park District. The Kewanee Park District thanks Bobby Oldeen, Sharon DeSmit, Joe DeSmit, Andrew DeSmit, Farm King, Walmart Distribution Center and all of the kids, parents and grandparents who make the Fishing Rodeo possible.
