The plaques continue to pile up for Nash Smith.

The 8-year-old from Montgomery City Elementary School earned his fifth plaque at the Peggy Roesner Memorial Youth Derby after being rewarded for catching the most fish at this year’s event on Sept. 13 at the Dave and Johnson Farm, located off Highway B in Montgomery City.

Nash caught 21 fish, more than any of the 28 children who participated in the annual fishing event. He received a plaque for catching the most fish in the age 6-9 division.

“I thought I was going to catch less than that,” said Nash, who fishes at Loutre Creek several times a month. “I thought I was going to catch maybe 12.”

Also earning awards in the age 6-9 division were Lexi Gaines (biggest fish, 9.25 inches) and Rylan Tracy (smallest, seven inches). Landon Collins was first in the age 14-17 division for the most fish (1), biggest fish (10.5 inches) and smallest fish (10.5 inches). In the age 10-13 division, the winners were Keagan Rakers (most fish, 5), Aden Fortmann (biggest fish, 12 inches) and Leo Rose (smallest fish, nine inches). Everett Tracy (most fish, 2), Tucker Jones (biggest fish, 22 inches) and Bennett Lawrence (smallest fish, 8.75 inches) were the award winners in the age 2-5 division. All of the award winners posed with the Roesner family.

Nash has been participating in the fishing derby for four years. Three years ago, he earned awards for the biggest catch, biggest fish and the smallest fish in the age 2-5 division.

Keagan, who is a student at Immaculate Conception School, competed at the derby for the first time in four years. He said he was happy that he was available to come to the Johnson Farm this year.

“It’s nice,” Keagan said. “I haven’t been out here in a while, but it’s nice to come out again.”

Aden, another IC student, earned his third plaque. He also caught three fish.

“It was a good fishing day until it turned into the afternoon and the fish didn’t want to bite anymore,” Aden said.

The fishing derby is sponsored by the Montgomery City Lions Club and is named after a former Lions Club member who passed away in April 2015. It is held on the second Saturday in September every year and is open to all children between the ages of 2-17. This year’s event began at 7:30 a.m. and ended at 11 a.m.