A total of 104 participants, comprising professional staff, lecturers, and students of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), took part in a fishing competition as part of the 71st Anniversary of FEB UGM. Held under the theme FEB UGM Mancing Mania on Saturday (29/8) at Patukan Fishing Pond, Ambarketawang, Gamping, Sleman, the event served not only as a competition but also as an opportunity to strengthen camaraderie among FEB UGM’s academic community.
As many as 300 kilograms of pomfret were released into the pond for the competition. Participants competed to catch the heaviest fish according to the rules set by the organizing committee.
The Vice Dean officially opened the fishing competition for Academic and Student Affairs of FEB UGM, Bayu Sutikno, S.E., M.S.M., Ph.D. According to Bayu, FEB UGM Mancing Mania was part of the 71st Anniversary celebrations and was designed to strengthen relationships among members of the FEB UGM community. He emphasized that informal activities such as this are important for fostering communication and a sense of togetherness within FEB UGM.
“The fishing event held as part of FEB UGM’s 71st Anniversary is the first of its kind, and we plan to make it an annual event. This initiative responds to the strong enthusiasm among participants and their families, providing an opportunity to strengthen our bonds. Through fishing together, we can also develop patience and skills in catching fish,” said Bayu.
The participants’ enthusiasm was evident from the beginning of the event. Many participants could be seen patiently focusing on their fishing rods, waiting for the fish to take the bait. Andi Armansyah, a staff member of the General Affairs Division at FEB UGM, became the first participant to catch a fish successfully. He admitted that he did not expect to be the first person to catch a fish among the many participants.
“Alhamdulillah, I’m definitely very happy. In my opinion, fishing is not merely about the competition. What matters most is being able to gather, have fun, and share laughter with fellow participants and members of the FEB UGM fishing community, ‘Tawa Sutra,’” he said.
The atmosphere became even livelier as more participants began catching fish. The enthusiasm was also shared by Eko Hariyanto, a staff member of the Admissions, Partnerships, and Alumni Unit at FEB UGM. Although he caught only three fish after spending the entire day fishing, he was still pleased with the day. He said the activity provided an opportunity for members of the academic community to strengthen relationships and build closer connections with colleagues from different units.
“Regardless of the catch, what matters most is the sense of togetherness and family. I hope this can become a regular event at every FEB anniversary so that our sense of community grows stronger and we can feel more comfortable interacting with colleagues outside our respective units,” said Eko.
In addition to providing an opportunity for participants to gather, the event also featured a competition to catch the heaviest single fish. Walgiyono, a staff member of the Master of Accounting Program at FEB UGM, won first place in FEB UGM Mancing Mania after catching a fish weighing 1.20 kilograms. He said there was no special trick involved in his fishing strategy. Even his bait was made from simple, easily available ingredients in the surrounding area.
“The bait was quite simple: tempeh, coconut milk, milk, and keluak. It was really enjoyable to meet friends and strengthen our relationships. I hope the event can be held again next year and become even more exciting,” he said.
Report: Shofi Hawa Anjani
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
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