Photos by Abbie Bennett/Paraglide Left: Bladen Core, 7, won the Junior Angler trophy at the Patriot Hunts Brim Fishing Contest on Saturday. Bladen competed with two other junior anglers for the trophy. Right: Jordan Cain walked away with trophies for Best Lady Angler, and biggest fish overall at the Patriot Hunts Brim Fishing Contest on Saturday.

Ken Barnard, CEO and founder of Patriot Hunts, organized a fishing tournament on Saturday for Soldiers, civilians and Families to raise funds for the next Patriot Hunts event.

Jordan Cashwell and Barnard coordinated the Brim Fishing Contest at Maple Creek Farm in Stedman, N.C. Teams of two were charged $20 to fish from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All proceeds from the event will go to defray expenses of taking Soldiers and Gold Star Families on more Patriot Hunts and outdoor events.

Teams were able to fish at any of the water features in the area as long as they returned at 4 p.m. Awards were given for first through third place in two categories: biggest fish overall and heaviest 10 fish. Awards were also given out to best lady angler (woman with largest fish) and best junior angler (child with largest fish).

Barnard said he was expecting about 40 participants for the fishing tournament, but was satisfied with the 25-person turnout, considering the blistering North Carolina heat. This was the first time Patriot Hunts held a fishing event, and Barnard said he is optimistic that participation will increase.

Barnard said this tournament was open to civilians, active-duty Soldiers, wounded warriors and Families.

“This was a fundraising event for our later hunts, so anyone willing to donate was welcome to participate,” he said. “One of the best things we do is offer these events free of charge to our wounded warriors and Gold Star Families, so fundraisers are a great thing.”

Patriot Hunts takes financial responsibility for all the events, even going as far as purchasing hunting and fishing licenses for those who don’t have them. Barnard said he’d like to buy fishing poles for Gold Star children soon.

Born and raised in the greater Fort Bragg area, Barnard grew up a military child and has a son-in-law stationed at Fort Bragg.

Patriot Hunts sponsors about six events per year, according to Barnard.

“This is my way to give back,” he said. “This is something I can do.”

Barnard said that after five years of getting the program off the ground and getting all the necessary accreditations for a nonprofit, Patriot Hunts has been well received on Fort Bragg.
“They know we’re doing it for the right reasons,” he said. “There’s a huge need for something like this. Kids who may never bait a hook will get a chance to do that. Kids who don’t have anyone to take them out to go hunting or fishing now have a chance.”

Barnard said Gold Star parents quickly learned to trust the program as a good environment for military children.

“They know what we’re doing is honorable, they know their kids are safe,” Barnard said.

Although participation in the fishing tournament was less than expected, Barnard said it was a fundraising success and, more importantly, it made people happy.

The winners of the tournament walked away with trophies and a $100 prize went to the angler with the largest fish.

Third place for biggest fish went to Shane Lewis with a 14 ounce catch. Second place was Jordan Cashwell with a one-pound fish and first place went to Jordan Cain with a one pound, two ounce fish.

The third place team with most weight was Jordan Cain and Jordan Cashwell with a total of 10 fish weighing four pounds, 11 ounces. Second place was Tracy and Crystal Core with a total of five pounds, four ounces. First place went to Shane Lewis and Mike Jackson who caught ten fish totaling five pounds, 11 ounces.

Cain, who walked away with trophies for both best lady angler and first place for biggest fish, said she was shocked that she won.

“This is my first tournament,” Cain said. “I was very surprised that I won, but it would have been fun no matter what.”

Cain’s winning fish tipped the scales at one pound, two ounces.

Cain said she caught mainly broom fish, along with the rest of the group, but several participants said they caught small bass as well.

Bladen Core won the junior angler trophy for his 13.8-ounce fish.

Bladen was mum on his secrets for catching one of the largest fish of the tournament.

The event was intended to bring people out to have fun, but also maintains that it was a fundraiser to benefit wounded warriors and Gold Star children of fallen Soldiers, said Barnard.

Patriot Hunts is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to serving the military community. For more information, visit its website at www.patriothunts.org.

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