Kids' Fishing Derby 2008 at Tishomingo NFH, Oklahoma, on June 7. Photo by Staff.

"An Apple a Day...." Kids' Fishing Derby June 7, 2008 at Tishomingo NFH. Photo by Staff.

A Great Catch! Kids' Fishing Derby June 7, 2008, Tishomingo NFH, Oklahoma. Photo by Staff.

A prize winner! Kids' 2008 Fishing Derby at the Tishomingo NFH in Oklahoma on June 7th. Photo by Staff.

Once again this year, the 400 children in attendance at the Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery Kids’ Fishing Derby enjoyed catching some large channel catfish and winning special prizes donated by local merchants and individual contributors.  With all of the family members accompanying the young fishermen, attendance was around 750. Guests were provided plenty of healthy snacks such as fruit, granola bars, string cheese, juice, and water by the Chickasaw Tribe Nutrition Service.  The Friends’ Group of the Tishomingo NFH supplied chicken liver for bait for the fishermen and items for the treat bags that each child received.  The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation contributed a poster, a book of fishing regulations, and a current copy of "Outdoor Oklahoma" for each treat bag.  Staff from the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge assisted with registration, parking, and law enforcement for the event.  A total of 50 special prizes were awarded to lucky children in attendance by ticket drawing.  In addition, the fishermen got to keep all the catfish they caught up to the limit of 5.  The Fish & Habitat Conservation mission of “Healthy Economics, Healthy People, Healthy Fish & Wildlife, and Healthy Habitats” was certainly evident in this event full of family fun and cooperative efforts from the community, other governmental agencies, Native Americans, and the Friends’ Group.