Kids Can Catch sees hundreds of lines hit Fort Lions Pond for local fishing event

Jun 09, 2022

a fishing frenzy at West River’s Edge as families gathered around Fort Lions Pond to try their luck catching a fish.

The Kids Can Catch event saw a fantastic turnout throughout the day, with 769 participants casting a line into the pond.

“The goal is to teach people how to fish and to get people involved with fishing,” said Joanne Melzer, liaison with Kids Can Catch. “It’s for everybody. [The event] helps introduce the sport to new Canadians but its for all other people as well. Anybody else that doesn’t know how to fish and wants to learn. And everybody always ends up having a lot of fun.

“It’s been a really successful day,” commented Laura Volkman, event coordinator with Kids Can Catch. “We’ve had a lot of people who have never ever tried fishing before and so they’ve just been really excited to get a rod in their hands and learn. We’ve had quite a few kids this year who just get so excited they scream.”

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Video: Veteran Farmers: A Legacy of Service in Rural America

Veterans Day is a time to honor the men and women who have selflessly protected our freedoms and values. And for some, the transition from military service to civilian life brings them back to the farm.

At Farm Bureau, we believe it’s important to not only celebrate veterans but also those who continue to make a difference in agriculture and their community. We've partnered with Farm Credit to establish the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence to shine a light on those who have continued to go above and beyond to serve their communities.

This year, we recognize retired Colonel Joe Ricker as the inaugural Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence winner. Joe served over 30 years in the Army before retiring from the Pentagon and completing tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Since leaving the Army, his commitment to excellence in farming and enriching the lives of veterans has blossomed in a myriad of ways in both his local community of Wilkinson, Indiana, and across the country. Joe grows apples and raises bees on his farm in Indiana. Joe founded “Veterans IN Farming,” an organization, now with more than 1,100 members, dedicated to providing veterans in Indiana with the tools and training to succeed in agriculture.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization, comprised of and directed by farm and ranch families who engage in all types of food, fuel and fiber production.