RRSP hatchery First Hole program honored by governor

January 15, 2020
Charlea Estes-Jones
A local program that has been making a huge impact to an often overlooked community of people at Roaring River State Park is receiving recognition by the governor this month after almost nine years. Roaring River hatchery staff will be recognized for their contributions through the hatchery's first hole fishing program. Staff will be recognized in Jefferson City on Thursday, January 9, with a Governor's Award for Quality and Productivity in the innovation category.
Roaring River hatchery's First Hole program is a well-known and appreciated program that allows certain groups to fish at the park for free in the first fishing hole near the hatchery's office and pools. The program is open to schools, veteran groups, as well as disabled people. The staff provides education, tackle, poles and help for groups who come to fish at the park as part of the program free of charge.
Last year, over 4,000 people, many who would not otherwise be able to have the experience of fishing, participated in the First Hole program at the park. Staff work tirelessly to ensure marginalized groups have the opportunity to fish the beautiful waters of Roaring River through the program.
Staff at Roaring River's hatchery were nominated by Brad Farwell, the hatchery's assistant manager. The program began on March 1, 2011, and has been in operation ever since without any official recognition or awards.
Farwell said he decided to nominate his fellow staff after seeing what projects had won in the past. He said, “I had seen some other awards winners for the Governor’s Award in the last year or so, and I thought basically that what we did was just as good as what anyone else had done.”
Nevertheless, Farwell said he was pleasantly surprised. He said the program fills a niche for people from not only southwest Missouri, but communities, such as veterans, who travel from all over the Midwest to participate.
He said, “I think it’s an easy opportunity for people to take those kinds of groups who are larger and would require a lot of chaperones and stuff. If you were going to bring a big group like that and let them fish in an uncontrolled environment, it would be really hard to manage them.
“This gives them their own space. They can bring their own food and can set up a canopy if they need it. We provide everything, and they don’t have to bring anything.”
At Roaring River State Park, there are 33 different fishing holes that make up the trout fishing experience. The first hole is the nearest the hatchery and is also a prime place for those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility to be able to fish. The staff work to procure volunteers to help teach people not only how to fish, but how to tie lines, bait hooks, cast, handle fish and sometimes even cook the fish.
Staff get volunteers to help with the program, organize and schedule groups who want to participate and also seek donations to obtain equipment for groups to use while they are at the park.
Groups come from all over the state to get a special chance to fish in the First Hole program. Often times, those groups are students, at-risk youth, foster kids, disabled people, nursing home groups and veterans groups with issues like PTSD or other problems. Through the First Hole program, thousands who would not normally be able to experience the outdoors through trout fishing are given an even playing field to do so, and make memories that last a lifetime.
At the ceremony on January 9, MDC director Sara Parker Pauley said, “I am so proud of this MDC team for their innovation in connecting people of all ages and abilities with the outdoors. This is the heart of our conservation story and success in Missouri – that we are all on the same team working together to push conservation forward and connect people with nature.”
Staff recognized at the ceremony were: hatchery technicians Jared Ballard, Justin Ballard, Caleb Beuterbaugh, Doug Cummins, Gary Ellis and Marina Spurrier, and hatchery manager Paul Spurgeon.
For more information about the First Hole program or to request a reservation to utilize the program, call the hatchery office at (417) 847-2430.
Charlea Estes-Jones
A local program that has been making a huge impact to an often overlooked community of people at Roaring River State Park is receiving recognition by the governor this month after almost nine years. Roaring River hatchery staff will be recognized for their contributions through the hatchery's first hole fishing program. Staff will be recognized in Jefferson City on Thursday, January 9, with a Governor's Award for Quality and Productivity in the innovation category.
Roaring River hatchery's First Hole program is a well-known and appreciated program that allows certain groups to fish at the park for free in the first fishing hole near the hatchery's office and pools. The program is open to schools, veteran groups, as well as disabled people. The staff provides education, tackle, poles and help for groups who come to fish at the park as part of the program free of charge.
Last year, over 4,000 people, many who would not otherwise be able to have the experience of fishing, participated in the First Hole program at the park. Staff work tirelessly to ensure marginalized groups have the opportunity to fish the beautiful waters of Roaring River through the program.
Staff at Roaring River's hatchery were nominated by Brad Farwell, the hatchery's assistant manager. The program began on March 1, 2011, and has been in operation ever since without any official recognition or awards.
Farwell said he decided to nominate his fellow staff after seeing what projects had won in the past. He said, “I had seen some other awards winners for the Governor’s Award in the last year or so, and I thought basically that what we did was just as good as what anyone else had done.”
Nevertheless, Farwell said he was pleasantly surprised. He said the program fills a niche for people from not only southwest Missouri, but communities, such as veterans, who travel from all over the Midwest to participate.
He said, “I think it’s an easy opportunity for people to take those kinds of groups who are larger and would require a lot of chaperones and stuff. If you were going to bring a big group like that and let them fish in an uncontrolled environment, it would be really hard to manage them.
“This gives them their own space. They can bring their own food and can set up a canopy if they need it. We provide everything, and they don’t have to bring anything.”
At Roaring River State Park, there are 33 different fishing holes that make up the trout fishing experience. The first hole is the nearest the hatchery and is also a prime place for those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility to be able to fish. The staff work to procure volunteers to help teach people not only how to fish, but how to tie lines, bait hooks, cast, handle fish and sometimes even cook the fish.
Staff get volunteers to help with the program, organize and schedule groups who want to participate and also seek donations to obtain equipment for groups to use while they are at the park.
Groups come from all over the state to get a special chance to fish in the First Hole program. Often times, those groups are students, at-risk youth, foster kids, disabled people, nursing home groups and veterans groups with issues like PTSD or other problems. Through the First Hole program, thousands who would not normally be able to experience the outdoors through trout fishing are given an even playing field to do so, and make memories that last a lifetime.
At the ceremony on January 9, MDC director Sara Parker Pauley said, “I am so proud of this MDC team for their innovation in connecting people of all ages and abilities with the outdoors. This is the heart of our conservation story and success in Missouri – that we are all on the same team working together to push conservation forward and connect people with nature.”
Staff recognized at the ceremony were: hatchery technicians Jared Ballard, Justin Ballard, Caleb Beuterbaugh, Doug Cummins, Gary Ellis and Marina Spurrier, and hatchery manager Paul Spurgeon.
For more information about the First Hole program or to request a reservation to utilize the program, call the hatchery office at (417) 847-2430.