Minnesota Valley Staff Beth Ullenberg and  Suzanne Trapp teach aqautic habitat identification. - FWS photo

Minnesota Valley volunteer Paula Suchy assists with macroinvertebrate collecting. - FWS photo

Dan Sobieck, FWS Regional Office, helps to release a catch. - FWS photo

State Fish Art National Winners fish at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. - FWS photo

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge partnered with Wildlife Forever to host an afternoon of discovery and fishing for their national winners of the State-Fish Art Contest.

Minnesota Valley staff and volunteers led the winners and their families through educational learning stations consisting of fish identification, habitat, casting, and fish printing. Then everyone grabbed a fishing pole to "land the big one."

Although many of the winners have never fished before, numerous individuals were "hooked" by the end of the day. 

This event allowed Minnesota Valley to instill that the National Wildlife Refuge System is an extrodinary place to explore the outdoors.