The end of another month is upon us. We are leaving Wolf Creek Hatchery the third week in June which means we have less than a month to go here at Wolf Creek. We continue to do our shifts and try to travel to some new locale on our day(s) off. Another couple moved in last week and so now we have 5 volunteer couples. We are at the point of volunteer-overload, but it means less to do. The manager thinks because the hatchery is so popular and past history has shown lots of visitors during the summer months, 2 couples each weekend will be required. My most immediate concern is for personal safety so we don’t trip over each other or fall asleep and slide out of our chairs. This volunteering is challenging.

On June 7^th is the BIG fishing derby. Expected crowds number 4 to 5,000. We saw a video that was made in the past, and it looks like the county fair. There are tents set up, car parking on the grass, porta-potties, face painting, cotton candy, and some fishing. We were surprised that the volunteers are not directly involved. There are lots of fishing derby volunteers and sponsors that run the show. Volunteers are responsible for keeping the visitor center operational. Again my concern is personal safety as 5 couples try to avoid tripping over each other because we are all scheduled to work the visitor center that day.

I had my chance to go on a fish stocking trip. We went into northeastern KY deep in the Daniel Boone National Forest. We were carrying about 600 lbs of rainbow trout and did lots of driving. We rendezvoused with 2 KY Game and Fish folks who did the actual stocking. One of our stops was at Natural Bridge State Resort Park, but I was not able to see the actual natural bridge. Our final stop was deep in the wilderness of the Daniel Boone driving along narrow one lane gravel roads. It was a great trip and saw lots of great country. KY is as very beautiful state.

I was impressed with the sophisticated stocking techniques used. Pitch the fish from buckets or nets. The stocking sounded like a bunch of pre-teen boys doing cannonballs off the high dive at the local swimming pool. I trust the professionals know what they were doing. I watched for belly up fish and saw none. I can only assume accepted fish stocking protocols were followed at all times.

A tour we did on one of our days off was to a Civil War battlefield in the area.

We learned that KY was a Border State, and KY regiments fought for the Union at this battle.  Folks sympathetic to the Southern cause crossed into TN and joined the Confederate Army there. So, this battle truly was brother against brother. It was one of the few Union victories early in the war, but what particularly intrigued us was learning that the MN 2 Regiment fought in this battle. We associate MN regiments with fighting at Gettysburg and easily overlook the fact that Minnesotans also fought in the West with Grant’s army. This was a small battle but it helped to deny the Confederates from establishing a permanent hold on KY and therefore became an important battle.

The experiencing of history and culture and then stopping for catfish and hush puppies is why we volunteer. Couldn’t ask for anything more.