Take Stock in Children Backcountry Challenge 

BY MAGGIE OLIVE KLEIN
KONKLIFE STAFF WRITER AND EDITOR

The Rotary Club of Key Largo’s 22nd Annual Take Stock in Children Backcountry Challenge is taking place this month, from September 23-25. The event is a catch and release fishing tournament for local scholarships, with Take Stock in Children (TSIC) being the beneficiary of a portion of the funds. Key Largo Rotary is a civic service organization that raises money to help kids and returning students to either technical school or traditional four-year-college. The Backcountry Challenge is Key Largo Rotary’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and with good reason! 

When asked about the contest, Director of The Rotary Club of Key Largo, Cheryl Powers, said, “It was a natural progression for us to start doing a fishing tournament that supported children. Take Stock is probably the worthiest cause here in the state of Florida. The event evolved from raising just a little bit of money, to having raised just over $40,000 last year. And every dime raised goes back to scholarships for children either through Take Stock or to kids in the Upper Keys.” The event is primarily subsidized by sponsorships of companies, and Powers mentions that they have some big sponsors this year, including Florida Keys Electric Cooperative, Robbie’s of Islamorada, Caribee, and many others. 

The event starts Friday evening with a kickoff party at Doc’s Diner, where participants are gathered, and the rules are laid out. The minute everyone is released from this mandatory captains and anglers meeting, then lines are in, and participants can fish all the way until 4:00 pm on Sunday, so people literally fish around the clock. Powers says, “Participants are only fishing for three species: Trout, Snook, and Redfish. There are great rewards for winners, all by local artist Roberto “Pasta” Pantaleo.” The awards range in different categories including the Adult Division for the first, second, and third largest Redfish, Snook, and Trout, as well as others for the Junior Division (13 to 17), the Kids Division (12 and under), the Top Professional Angler, and many others. The awards will be given on Sunday, September 25th, at the Elk’s Club with a dinner banquet beginning at 6:00 pm. The food will be catered by Conch House Restaurant, and there will be a silent and live auction. The event is fun for the whole family. If you are interested in participating, head to the Key Largo Rotary website, linked in the next paragraph. 

The fundraiser is incredible for all involved, from participants to award winners and those that receive scholarships. The Rotary Club of Key Largo, as said on their website, keylargorotary.org, is “A club of dedicated members sharing a passion for community service and friendship.” It also states, “Together our goal is to make our community and world a better place. Individually we strive to live by the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self.’” 

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