Fishing Rodeo makes a splash in Autauga County  

Malia Riggs 

Elmore Autauga News 

The inaugural Fishing Rodeo held at Camp Tukabatchee, the boy scouts camp in Prattville, hosted the event where over 50 kids and their families attended with smiles and mostly sunshine. The first ever Autauga County Fishing Rodeo was hosted in Partnership with the Autauga County Sheriff’s department and YMCA Field of Dreams.  

“The smiles on all their faces today, that was the greatest thing ever, especially watching the kids that have never fished before. I think it not only did me good, but the rest of my deputies that were out here too. We see so much during the day with our jobs,  it’s just great to give back to kids that probably wouldn’t have had a chance to do something like this if it wasn’t for our sponsors and hardworking volunteers,” Autauga County Sheriff Mark Harrel said. 

The new found tradition allowed all children while highlighting special needs children from the Field of Dreams program at the Prattville YMCA, to cast their poles Saturday afternoon for an afternoon of fishing and fun.   

According to Harrel, every Field of Dreams participant was able to catch a fish. The pond was stocked prior to the event by American Sports Fish, the poles for the event were provided by the Alabama Conservation Department, and the bait provided by Big Bass Bait & Tackle.  

The idea, Harrell confirmed, was taken from Sheriff Derrick Cunningham in Montgomery, where the Montgomery County fishing rodeo is a 21 year tradition. 

“It’s not about us and advertising what we’re trying to do, we just wanted to do it for the kids. We just wanted to do something of our own, like Derick Cunningham does in Montgomery every year,” Harrel said.  

Co-Hosting the event were several different agencies to include the Autauga County Fire and Rescue from many different areas in the County, the Alabama Game and Fish Conservation Department, and ALEA State Troopers, Harrel confirmed.  

“The Autauga County community has done so much for us at the Sheriff’s Office for so many years that it is time for us to give back. This is just a start for us at the Sheriff Office hosting special events such as the Autauga County Rodeo and Fishing Rodeo.  As I look through the photos all I see are smiling faces of kids, family, and everyone involved. Thank you for allowing me to be your Sheriff,” Harrel said in a Facebook post.