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Despite the brisk chill in the air on Saturday morning, a lively group of young anglers gathered at Escondida Lake for the eagerly anticipated annual Fish Derby. Bundled up against the cold, these brave kids cast their lines, ready to enjoy a day filled with excitement and friendly competition.
“We had a little over 100 kids that showed up that morning. And the nice thing about that is we were able to give a free brand new fishing pole to every single kid that registered for the derby,” Cheyenne Cortez, City of Socorro Tourism and Marketing services director and organizer of the event, said.
She said the annual event is truly a community effort.
Forget Me Not Veterans Park volunteered to cook for all the kids, while Presbyterian Hospital donated the food. Midstate Electric and the Water and Ice Store contributed bikes, which brought big smiles to the winners. The Socorro Bass Club was responsible for measuring the fish, and NM Game and Fish kept everyone engaged with activities.
Socorro County helped prepare the lake and worked behind the scenes while the City of Socorro Streets Department set up the tent that hosted heaters, offering a little break from the temperatures.
The City of Socorro also supplied the fishing poles for the participants, and the Socorro Fire Department provided a PA system and standby support. Gobbie Garza brought out his food truck to support the event.
