Her name is Betty DeFord, and she lives in Bath, Ill. She regularly enjoyed boating on the Illinois River, but invasive carp kept jumping out of the water and into her boat.

That’s when it hit her — not a carp, but a great idea. Turn the tables and attack those invaders. DeFord founded the Original Redneck Fishing Tournament held annually in early August for the past 18 years in a channel off the main river.

DeFord is recognized for turning an environmental nightmare into a community event with more than just carp catchers. It also boasts a variety of kids and family events, live music and a festival atmosphere, drawing participants from across the nation. Moreover, all proceeds are donated to the Illinois Homeless Veterans organization.

“The jumping carp got so bad we couldn’t even take the kids out on the boat for fear they get hit,” DeFord says. “So we decided to go on the attack, and the tournament idea was born.”

The event also spotlights the importance of conservation. It is intended to help reduce the population of Asian carp, especially the silver carp. These fish can exceed 50 pounds, are easily frightened by the sound of a boat engine, and are notorious for leaping 8 to 10 feet out of the water. They frequently land in boats and injure the occupants, including broken bones and concussions, according to the U.S. EPA. Catching flying carp in nets is a key part of the tournament.

Asian carp were introduced in southern farm ponds to reduce plant growth. They escaped into the Mississippi River during floods and have moved north ever since, invading other rivers that feed into the Big Muddy. There are actually four species of carp present: big head, silver, grass and black.

In June 2022, the EPA came up with a plan to commercially fish and rebrand the Asian carp as Copi (short for copious) hoping it would become popular table fare because it’s edible and popular in Southeast Asia. But eating the big, ugly fish hasn’t really taken off in markets.

The carp, which so far have been kept from reaching the Great Lakes, could decimate the region’s $7 billion annual fishing industry. Experts contend if carp get into Lake Michigan at Chicago, they could rapidly proliferate and expand into the other four lakes and wipe out the native fish populations.

Currently, the carp are held at bay using techniques that include electric fences and bubbler systems in the Des Plains River, which feeds the Chicago Ship Canal. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state of Illinois are spending millions annually to keep the carp from getting to the Ship Canal, which enters Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago. Even the state of Michigan reportedly contributes funding to the effort.

As the founder of the tournament, DeFord was recently honored for her creative idea and years of dedicated community service. As for the boating industry, the importance of keeping this threat to fishing in the eight states that border the Great Lakes can’t be overstated.