HOLYOKE –  Every year for the past 39 years American Legion Post 351 in Holyoke has hosted their annual Catfish Derby. This year, despite being in the middle of a pandemic, was no different.

This year, Cam Tucker brought in the largest catfish for the adult division at 15 pounds, 4 ounces. Oliver Waters won the youth division with an 11 pound, 11 ounces fish.

Wendy Parcyka’s father, Donald, was the one who founded the derby all those years ago. She said her father was a “legionaire” and had previously served in the military, though did not specify which branch. She said he had also been a commander and served on the board of directors at the post.

The derby, she said, was born out of Donald’s love for the outdoors and fishing, and his desire to give back. “Him and a couple of his buddies wanted to take their love of the outdoors and do something with kids to benefit kids. Something that the veterans could do to give back to the community,” she said.

Hampden resident Daniel Anderson, who is also Wendy’s boyfriend and vice president of the Catfish Derby, said Donald had got him to participate in his first derby more than a decade ago. “I’ve been fishing it for 12-years. What got me into it was Wendy’s father.”

Both Anderson and Wendy said while they were unsure exactly how the derby became so popular, it’s something that’s become a family tradition for many, including themselves, over the years. Anderson said the derby “just kind of took off.”

“Back in its payday, we had over 600 participants,” he said.

Wendy said, “Years ago people used to plan their vacations, fathers used to take their sons.” Many of these same people, she said, have returned year after year. “Now we’re seeing the fathers, sons, grandsons and great-grandsons. We’re seeing generations.”

Anderson, who has now worked the derby as a staff member for six years, recalled one man, who he said, “has been fishing as long as I’ve worked it.” He said, “He takes his elderly father out. It’s created something to bring families together.”

The rules of the derby are simple: buy a ticket, catch a catfish in the Connecticut River and take the fish to get weighed at the American Legion Post 351. Anderson said the derby started at 7 p.m. on July 17, and participants had until 2 p.m. on July 19 to bring their fish to be weighed. He said the catching of the fish is “self-regulated,” meaning that they trust people will be honest that they caught their fish in the Connecticut River.

Cash prizes for the top 20 biggest fish were awarded following the 2 p.m. deadline. Anderson said typically, “a mini awards ceremony” is held the Monday following the derby, however, due to the coronavirus, prizes would be mailed this year. “All checks are going to be mailed out,” he said

Wendy said they had to work out a way to have children who participated in the derby get their trophies. “We can’t give the trophies to the kids, we have a way for them to pick that up.” She added that “special commemorative gifts” were ordered for the winners this year in honor of the derby’s 40th anniversary.

While the anniversary is exciting, Wendy said it was sad as well. She said her mother, who is elderly now, was happy to see the derby continue, but disappointed by the circumstances. “She’s the wife of the founder of the derby and is happy to see us do 40, but disappointed we can’t celebrate,” she said.

Another change that was made to the event due to the pandemic was the cancellation of the t-shirt fundraiser sale. “Normally we sell t-shirts, and if you buy a t-shirt for $10 we throw a party, but we can’t do that this year,” she said.

Anderson said the party, which is typically held in the September following the derby, had to be cancelled. “There’s no guarantees we’ll be able to host that part, we had to nix that,” he said.

Both Wendy and Anderson said the cancellation of the September party will be a significant loss to be able to continue the work they do to give back to special needs children in the Pioneer Valley. “That’s where most of the money comes from,” he said. She echoed the sentiment and said, “We make a lot of money at that event.”

However, the pair said they will continue to do the work Donald set out to do 40-years ago. “We don’t keep the money, we donate it all the special needs children, either mentally or physically challenged,” she said.

Throughout the years, she said, the money raised by the derby and the t-shirt party has helped buy software for autistic children, send children to camps that focus on their special needs, bought adapted equipment such as bikes and even purchased wheelchairs to help children with physical needs. She said ultimately the derby is about “fishermen helping children in the community.”