On September 9, 2023, the Friends of the Norfork National Fish Hatchery held the first Hatchery Outdoor Adventure since the Pandemic of 2019. This year we had over 480 young people and their families in attendance. Volunteers from North Arkansas Fly Fishers, Trout Unlimited, Friends of the North Fork and White Rivers, Hatchery staff, Arkansas Game and Fish, The Corps of Engineers, Salesville City Council members and friends from Mountain View, Salesville, Calico Rock, Norfork and Mountain Home provided much needed support for the 25 outstanding activities.
Among the 25 activities and events were:
- Fly Tying, sponsored by Trout Unlimited and WAPSI
- Kiddy Fishing in the Raceway, sponsored by Ron Hulstein
-Freshwater Macroinvertebrates, sponsored by Heather Pittman and the Fred Berry
Crooked Creek Nature Center
-The Importance of Wetlands with Heather Pittman and the Fred Berry Crooked Creek
Nature Center
-Archery, sponsored by Arkansas Game and Fish District’s Trent Whitehead and Hatchery
Staff Mike Lewis
-Baxter County Master Gardeners provided educational hands-on activities relating to plant
growth and conservation
-Bats and More, sponsored by Arkansas Game and Fish District with Chris Thigpen and
students from the University of AR
-Water Safety and River Rigs for Fishing, sponsored by Melissa Saulsbery
-Kayaking, sponsored by Ozark Mountain Trading Company, Andy Dill
-Lawn Fishing/Spin Casting, sponsored by Arkansas Game and Fish with Christy Graham
-Gyotaku (Japanese Fish Printing), sponsored by Duane Hada and the Cross Trail Outfitters
-500 Craft Kit Activities, sponsored by Home Depot
-BB Gun Shooting, sponsored by Mike Jirka, Treasurer for FNNFH
-Biking, sponsored by Norfork Adventure Supply with Rusty Harvey
-Fire Equipment Exploration, Sponsored by Salesville Volunteer Fire Department
- The Natural State Fly Shop, introduction to fly fishing and fly shop opportunities
-Drunk Goggles, sponsored by Baxter County Sheriff’s Department with Sgt. Billy Cox and
additional Reserve Deputies
-Boat Safety, sponsored by the Army Corps of Engineers and Landon Farquhar
-Enviorscape, sponsored by Baxter County Extension Office and Extension Agent, Amanda
Rychtarik
-Fly Casting, sponsored by Lisa Bellue (Salesville Flies and Guides)
-Baxter County Office of Emergency Management with Deputy Director
-S’Mores Station, sponsored by Mike and Karen Tipton, with Dru Zametto (Two Rivers Fly
Shop)
-Baxter County Juvenile Services provided 16 young volunteers that assisted in parking cars,
bike riding, kiddy fishing, kayaking and bottle water delivering.
-Into the Light sponsored baked good sales, with Carla Vredenburg and Sammie Jo and Logan
Holladay
The 2023 HOA was an excellent event. All of the volunteers and sponsors were wonderful.
FNNFH cannot thank you all enough. We are very much looking forward to our 2024 Hatchery Outdoor Adventure. We want to thank the following individuals and businesses for their significant donations to our 2023 HOA:
-Wal-Mart
-Harps Food Stores
-Town and Country Discount Foods
-Salesville Dollar General
-Lowe’s
-Home Depot
-Mountain Valley of the Ozarks
-Arvest Bank
-Sonic Drive-In
-Hardee’s
-North Arkansas Fly Fishers, Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Salesville (tables)
-Jay Chafin (technical logistic support and radio ads)
-Helen Mansfield – Baxter Bulletin
-Alex and Holli Grant (fly Rod donation)
-FNNFH Visitor Center and Gift Shop volunteers, Susan Lee and Sharron Schutte (generated
Over $1100)
-Care Ministries and Ron Hulstein (delivery of tables, set up and take down}
Written by: Joe Saulsbery of the Friends of the Norfork National Fish Hatchery
