More than 150 prize drawings drew a standing-room-only crowd for the conclusion of the 25th annual Park Rapids American Legion Fishing Derby Saturday night at Post 212.
The fun continued in the form of food, drink, music and prizes, despite the fishing contest itself being canceled due to unsafe ice conditions.
As Butch De La Hunt read the names of the prize winners, hometowns from across Minnesota were mentioned, as well as Iowa, North Dakota and Wisconsin. People who attended the event came from as far away as Joni Wheeler of Palm Springs, California.
Aside from the 72 raffle prizes, there are also drawings for 80 fishing prizes as well as “extra hole” ticket drawings.
The grand prize, a Chevy Colorado from Thielen Motors, went to Randy Kiphuth of Menahga.
Shane Grove won the Polaris ATV and Tami De La Hunt won the youth ATV.
According to information released by the American Legion, additional raffle winners include:
- Portable fish house: Jennifer DalBol, Sheri Olmsted
- Gas grill: Regine Gartner
- Golf package: Leo Hensel, Jason Frank
- Skis and ropes: Reuben Norquist
- Tube and rope: Randy Kiphuth
- Electric snow shovel: Jeremy Hjelle
- Yeti cooler: Mark Peterson
- Pizza oven: Mark Behrens
- Helmet and sweatshirt: Berneice Erdman
- Sweatshirt: Scott Lusti
- Custom woodworking: Ron Sondrol
- Hotel or casino stay: Paul Buckholz, Austin Schoenberg
- Newspaper subscription: William Didlo
- Microwave oven: Kelly Feddema
- Recliner: Sue Weckwerth
- $1,000 prize bundle: Dana Kyllonen, Earl Hoefs, Bob Elkington, Samantha Arndt, Marilyn DeCrans, Frank Lamb
- $500 prize bundle: Kristine Walsh, Michael Nevins, Michelle Lucas, Jeff Vogt, Lee Hendrickson, Darwin Bachmann, Matt Clementson, Bill Peterson, Bob Wobbrock, Jolene Boos, Cindy Stromre
- Many additional winners received prize bundles and gift cards valued at less than $500.
Robin Fish / Park Rapids Enterprise
Among the top fishing prize winners, Melissa Carmichael of Park Rapids won the “16th largest fish” drawing for an Ice Castle fish house from Smokey Hills Outdoor Store.
Prize money for the top 20 big fish in each of the four classes went to the following drawing winners:
- $2,500: Jason Frank, Ron Lemire, Kathy Thompson, Terry Edwards
- $1,000: Gary Tharalson, Randy Kiphuth, Georgeann Geregzek, Debbie Anderson
- $500: Dan Hanson, Charlie Moorhouse, Jim Emerson, Ashley Ward
- Another 68 winners collected prizes ranging from $100 to $450.
“Extra hole” tickets are drawn for prizes including seven ice drills and three underwater cameras. Among the winners, Mark Van Roekel won one of each prize.
Custom fishing rods put together by Jason Delaney were awarded to several people and organizations in recognition of their hard work in supporting the fishing derby, including Henry Ernst with Smokey Hills Outdoor Store, Sam Carlson on behalf of Hubbard First Response, Fire Chief Joe Carlson on behalf of the Park Rapids Fire Department, Deputy Craig Kritzeck for the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office and Kasey Krautkremer, who is serving Post 212 this year as commander and derby coordinator.
Robin Fish / Park Rapids Enterprise
Robin Fish is a staff reporter at the Park Rapids Enterprise. Contact him at [email protected] or 218-252-3053.
