Vance McCullough

The 5th Annual Rodeheaver Boys’ Ranch Benefit Bass Tournament commenced on Florida’s St Johns River Saturday, March 14. The fishing was good and the fund-raising efforts went well.

Austin Black of San Mateo and Wyatt Kinney of Bunnell won the event’s top prize of $7,500 with a 5-fish limit that weighed 24.28 pounds, minus a dead fish penalty of a half-pound that put their official total weight at 23.78.

Eric Roberts and Chris Cercy won $1,000 for bringing in the bog bass of the day, a specimen that weighed 9.68 pounds.

Greg Walker of Palatka Daily News said, “There were a lot of fish caught, for sure.” A fixture in the Palatka bass tournament scene, Walker was on hand for the festivities and fellowship.

This year’s event drew 167 teams in support of the Rodeheaver Ranch which provides a wholesome home environment with a program for social, educational, vocational, and spiritual development for up to 50 boys who, because of parental death, desertion, divorce, disability, or general dysfunction, are at-risk or insecure.

Rodeheaver Boys Ranch does not receive any government money and functions as a residential childcare facility providing total care for the boys who make the ranch their home.  The Ranch is not a summer or day camp, a detention center or an institution for the mentally impaired. Rodeheaver Boys Ranch functions as a lively structured community.