Fish, dine, explore on Aquaculture Day
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PALMYRA — With today's focus on natural, healthful and locally sourced foods, a visit to a Wisconsin fish farm offers people of all walks of life the ideal way to celebrate a quintessential pastime of summer. On Saturday, July 18 — Aquaculture Day — the Wisconsin Aquaculture Association and member fish farmers welcome Wisconsinites to experience fish farming and learn firsthand how locally grown, fresh fish are raised on today's farms.
“Family, fun and fishing go hand in hand when adults and kids learn how aquaculture provides local healthy food and improves the state's economy, local communities and recreational opportunities,” said Peter Fritsch, president of the Wisconsin Aquaculture Association and owner of Rushing Waters Fisheries in Palmyra.
Throughout the state, fish farms will offer activities including farm tours, fishing contests, cooking demonstrations, recipes and educational talks. Some farms will have gourmet tastes including fresh and smoked fish, spreads from trout and salmon and more for sampling and sale. Several offer fee fishing, a fun outdoor family activity where guests can experience getting a fresh catch from a local fish farmer. Visitors also can learn about raising fish or simply have fun fishing.
Rushing Waters Fisheries is Wisconsin's largest rainbow trout farms, nestled in the southern Kettle Moraine State Forest in Palmyra.
The 80-acre farm offers guests the opportunity to fish for rainbow trout, dine in its onsite restaurant and purchase a host of items from a seafood retail store.
On Saturday, July 18, the farm will be offering public fishing, continuous complimentary hay wagon farm tours, fly fishing workshops, bouncy house, local vendors and restaurant specials.
The farm is handicap accessible. Complimentary poles, bait and licensing onsite; simply come ready to fish.
First prize is a $100 gift certificate for Rushing Waters and The Trout House.
Farms on the tour include:
• Bullfrog's Eat My Fish Farm, Menomonie
• Century Trout Farm, Oregon
• Coolidge Springs Trout Ranch, Fifield
• Eagles Roost Trout Farm, New Richmond
• Northern Aquaculture demonstration facility, UW-Stevens Point, Red Cliff
• PortFish, Knellsville
• Rushing Waters Fisheries, Palmyra
• Silver Moon Springs, Elton
• Skyline Gardens and Ponds, River Falls
• Timberline Trout Ranch, Rice Lake
• Vozka's Fish Farm, Deerbrook
• Wilderness Springs Inc., New London