Danny Federico
reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Catfish lovers from all around found themselves reeled into one of the largest festivals in southern Suwannee County on Saturday, April 13. Individuals flooded onto the Suwannee River Greenway in Branford to peruse vendors selling arts and crafts, play games, enjoy live music by local bands and, of course, feast on crispy, fried catfish dinners with the Eighth Annual Suwannee River Catfish Festival.
On April 13, the Catfish Festival managed to lure in thousands of people, with the largest crowd forming around the festival's main attraction: the golden brown fried catfish filets. That wasn't all there was, though.
Each year, the Catfish Festival – which honors America's Veterans – donates half its profit to the Fisher House in Gainesville, which provides a home away from home for Veterans and their families during a “medical crisis, surgery or end-of-life condition.” This year, the Catfish Festival Board was able to donate its record amount of $3,750. In return, the board was presented with a plaque in recognition of their dedication from Gainesville Fisher House President Rick Fabiani.
In addition, the Suwannee River Catfish Festival Board awards two scholarships (one $1,000 and one $500) to high school seniors within the county through an essay contest. This year, second place went to Austin Humphries and first place went to McKayden Wilkerson, both students of Branford High School.