It’s a day that the majority of the Picayune School District’s special education students look forward to all year, the Rotary Club of Picayune’s Annual Fishing Rodeo.
For more than 20 years, members of the civic organization have hosted this rodeo for special needs students at Picayune’s schools, Rotary member Jim Luke said.
Lisa Beck, early child find coordinator for the Picayune School District, said the event is the students’ favorite time of the year. Special needs students from Southside Lower and Upper Elementary, Picayune Junior High and Picayune Memorial High School held their bamboo fishing rods in hopes of catching a fish.
“Students on all spectrums of disabilities and from ages 5 to 20 participate in today’s event,” Beck said. “There are 53 children and about 39 adult and parent volunteers. It gives them something to look forward to from the beginning of the year.”
Luke said the fishing rodeo is a fulfillment of the Rotary Club’s mission, which is service above self.
“We come out and help these special needs students,” he said. “It’s our blessing to be able to do this for them and to see the smiles on their face when they catch a fish.”
Tyler Upton, 12, caught the first fish of the day. It was the first of seven he would catch that day. His school appointed caretaker, Gail Sandoval, said he loves to fish, bowl and play Buddy Ball.
“It’s a very good thing to do with the kids and they look so forward to it and talk about it all year long,” she added.
Josh Goodman is a senior this year and attended the rodeo with his parents Lionel and Sylvia and his sister Kiara. He caught 11 fish and said it felt good. The fun part, he said, is catching them.
“It’s very nice,” Lionel Goodman said. “I enjoy myself and everyone has a good time. It’s something good for the kids.”