Troutfest Report by Byron Begley

You have probably heard that Troutfest was a huge success this year.  Attendance was very high, everything went well and a lot of people had a great time.  Troutfest is a project overseen by the Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited.  However, many of the volunteers are not members of the Chapter.  This is a more global endeavor.  Troutfest started as a way for the Chapter to earn operating expenses.  The Little River Chapter’s mission is to assist the Fisheries Department at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Since the Chapter has other sources of revenue Troutfest funds have been set aside entirely for the Park Fisheries Department this year. 

Money will be donated directly to the department and some will go to the Friends of the Smokies for the Scholarship Endowment Fund.  That money which has been growing at a high rate will be used and is currently used to fund seasonal staff for the Fisheries Crew.  These people are college students who plan to become fisheries biologists.  Money that is donated directly to the Fisheries Department is also used to fund seasonal workers, purchase equipment and provide for any other uses required by the department.

This year Troutfest had a net profit of $34,634.  Additionally, the Little River Chapter received a grant from Trout Unlimited National to be used for Brook Trout Restoration.  That brings the total to $44,634 to be used for fisheries needs in the Smokies.  So, here is how the board decided to split the proceeds from Troutfest and the TU grant.

$25,000 will be given directly to the Park Fisheries Department which includes the grant.  $15,000 will be donated to the endowment held at Friends of the Smokies.  The remaining $4,634 will be held back as seed money for next year’s Troutfest. 

Below is a Profit Statement for Troutfest 2009.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered, attended, sponsored and donated.