In August, at the Winkler Harvest Festival parade in Manitoba, Steve (Bubba) Peters will distribute complimentary fishing rods and reels. However, this act of generosity stems from an unusual beginning — a prank that turned into a positive initiative.
About a year ago, Peters received a call from a friend who had noticed a peculiar sign on the side of the road near Morden, a neighboring town to Winkler. The sign boldly proclaimed: “Bubba sucks at fishing.” Initially finding it amusing, Peters later realized the message was directed at him, as more signs mocking his fishing skills began to appear.
Despite his efforts to uncover the prankster behind the signs, Peters remained clueless. The signs continued, each one creatively ridiculing his fishing abilities. However, in May, a new sign emerged, stating: “Steve’s therapist advised him to embrace his mistakes, so he went fishing. Bubba sucks at fishing.” This incident prompted Peters to turn the negativity into something positive.
Taking inspiration from the situation, Peters made a social media post offering to donate a dollar for every like and share he received. The community rallied behind him, with local businesses and individuals contributing to the cause. With the funds raised, Peters purchased fishing gear for eight children in Manitoba. Encouraged by the success, he launched a T-shirt line with the slogan “Bubba Sucks At Fishing,” generating more donations.
The unexpected support allowed Peters to acquire additional fishing equipment, which he plans to distribute during the Winkler Harvest Festival parade. Despite the playful jabs at his fishing skills, Peters views the experience as a reminder to not take oneself too seriously and to find humor in life’s challenges.