OLEAN — Under the theme of “Take a kid fishing and change a life,” family and friends of the late Joe DeYoe are organizing the first Joe DeYoe Memorial Youth Fishing Derby, set for Saturday at Forness Pond.

Children and youth age 14 and under are invited to take part in the free derby, which is set for 8 a.m. to noon.

Krystal Travis, DeYoe’s sister, said the pond will be stocked with panfish on Friday ahead of the event, which features prizes for every participant as well as some special prizes for biggest fish and other categories. There will also be free beverages and hot dogs for participants.

Travis said her brother, an avid outdoorsman born and raised in Portville who passed away unexpectedly May 2, 2024, loved hunting, fishing, trapping and foraging and he took particular enjoyment out of taking kids out on the water to introduce them to the outdoors.

“He didn’t have children of his own but he was known as ‘Uncle Joe’ to so many kids he would take out fishing,” Travis said. “He was very passionate about the outdoors and he would take anyone’s children out fishing. … He changed many lives by the love that he spread everyday. It is our hope that we can continue to spread this love through the love of the great outdoors.”

Travis said registration is free but families are urged to register their children at the sign-up tent to receive prizes, which range from tackle kits and tackle boxes to dozens of fishing poles. The derby begins at 8 a.m. but Travis said families can arrive to take part at any time that morning.

“We’re really hoping for a great turnout to give children in the community something to do, to get them outside,” Travis said. “We’ll see where this goes … it’s something we’d like to be able to do every year in Joe’s memory.”