Alan Hempstead

2020 – First Time Winner

There have been many obstacles placed in front of the Junk for the Fish competition. Dates, locations, rule debates and concerts to name a few. 2020 was no different with the pandemic threatening to keep the trophy in place for two years. Creativity and thought prevailed. JFTF (or J4TF) happened from an acceptable social distance and with much more low-key atmosphere. With officially licensed J4TF hats and one more domain (j4tf.biz) secured, the competition was underway.

Our host took the trophy as a FIRST TIME CHAMPION. It was a win/win. A lucky scavenger picked up more than $500 in bikes and the winner took home a trophy and a leaf blower.

  • The Rules Committee will be considering instituting an Actual Cash Value of “junk” for future years.
  • Make no mistake, the 2020 JFTF / J4TF Champion used the tools and rules given to him to take home the trophy.

Our host put together a nice scoreboard for 2020. And Chris took second again. He is officially the annual bridesmaid. With no official junk circles, winning may have been the result of real estate. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

Scoreboard new for 2020

A closer look at the trophy modifications from the 2019 Champion.

2019 Junk for the Fish Countdown

The 2019 Junk for the Fish event will happen on Friday, April 5th. Jim has stated “Bring your three best items, rules are the same as last year.” Done and done. The garage will open at 5:30pm and we will go with what is now the traditional “air horn” start.

As of April 1, 2019 some “shoppers” have been seen trolling the streets of Bloomington west of Normandale Blvd.

Good luck to all participants. If you show up late, I hope you can locate the right house.

2018 Junk for the Fish Kickoff

Tonight is the night.  May 11th, 2018.  The “salvors” and “scrappers” are out in full force trolling the west side of Normandale for treasures.

For anyone that doesn’t understand how this works, you can see an example here.  It’s very simple.  You put something on the curb and a “salvor” or “scrapper” drives by and if they like what they see, they stop and find a way to put the item in there car.  In this example, the transaction takes roughly three minutes.

How is this simple concept improved?  Simple, get 8-10 friends to bring three items each and turn it into a bet.  And if there is a bet, there needs to be a trophy.  If there is a bet and a trophy, there should be a website to document the happenings.  Boom.

After the weather in 2018 caused a one week delay to the festivities, the trophy is prepared to find a new home.  The players are committed to the evening with only a few hours left to make final preparations and decisions.

There is a rumor that pork shoulder is being prepared as this post is being typed.  Ice cold refreshments will make a nice pairing for the evening.

Given the controversy with how the Junk for the Fish 2017 ended, a new set or rules has been established.  The rules page has been updated with the old rules saved for future reference.  2017 may have been the first and last time someone’s mother-in-law was allowed to grab a player’s junk whilst the rest of the players stood and watched.  That was awkward to say the least.

 

Junk for the Fish – Alive and Well

junkforthefish.com is officially alive and well.  The possibilities are endless.  The opportunities are real.

TrophyIn an attempt to share items no longer needed in seven independent households with strangers (in most cases) an annual event was created.  The event quickly grew into a competition and every good competition needs a trophy.  This trophy happens to be a traveling trophy.

Upgrades and updates pending.

Whilst this was officially the SECOND year of the competition, it was the first year of full participation.