VIDEO: Wyoming Kids Are Raising Trout In The Classroom

Fish are an important piece of the lifestyle of many Wyomingites. Not just because we enjoy going out and spending time on the water catching them but because fishing is a vital part of Wyoming's economy.

The money paid for fishing licenses and fees contributes to the revenue that goes into maintaining and improving fisheries, keeping the hatcheries in good shape to produce fish to support the state's fishing future, and funding the research needed to keep Wyoming as one of the top fishing destinations in the country.

Fishing is one of the avenues that has helped the state's tourism become one of the top money-earning industries. Folks come from all over to fish here and spend money in our communities in hotels, lodges, campgrounds, and Airbnb. They also eat at restaurants, buy souvenirs, pay for licenses and conservation stamps, and support our local economy.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has a fantastic hatchery system to keep the fisheries in tip-top shape and ensure the fish that live in those bodies of water are top-notch. Ten hatcheries are located throughout the state and produce millions of fish yearly to help with that mission.

Another great way WGFD works to keep the future of fishing in Wyoming bright is by having a great education system that offers kids the opportunity to learn about those important fish. The Trout in the Classroom educational program gives the kids a front-row seat to the biology of a Wyoming fish, from hatch to release.

Recently, students in 70 classrooms around the state released their baby fish from where they were hatched into a bigger tank that will be their home for the next few months. During that time, the kids will be responsible for the care and feeding of the fish and the care and maintenance of the tank itself.

Trout in the Classroom is a great way to get kids excited about the future of Wyoming's fish. WGFD posted this Instagram post when a classroom's fish were released into their bigger home. The sounds and sights of excitement are inspirational.