The Thirtieth Anniversary forum was held 19-22 September 2004 at Old Faithful Lodge, YNP. Ensuring the Future of Wild Trout Working Together was chosen as conference theme. A special positive spirit accompanied WT-VIII, perhaps due to the 210 pre-registrants, the four years since WT-VII, or that everything came together so very well. YNP Assistant Superintendent Robert Walker gave the welcoming address and Pete Van Gytenbeek (a symposium founder) reminisced about our beginnings in 1974 and how special the thirtieth anniversary occasion was. Ted Turner admonished us that we needed to actively fight the battles to save humanity and to save our fisheries. He reminded that we are all interdependent and asked that all step up to the plate to make a difference.
Symposium co-founder and organizer Frank Richardson, spoke during the first hosted lunch hour describing the 1972-1973 luncheons in Denver where the idea for Wild Trout Symposia was born. From those informal Denver meetings, the symposium idea went to Washington DC and Assistant Secretary of the Interior Nathanial P. Reed, where it was enthusiastically endorsed. An excellent power-point show illustrated the talk and added substance to the presentation.
A series of very significant presentations and poster papers, plus an excellent cross section of professionals and trout conservations in attendance made WT-VIII memorable. Presentations from Australia, Canada, and England highlighted international concerns about trout resources. Excellent participation and technical services provided by the MSU Student Association was much appreciated and should be encouraged at future WT sessions.
Greg Keller, a unique fly-fishing-Montana State University Professor of English and innovative western folk singer provided symposium banquet entertainment. His rousing songs on fish and politics were humorous, yet carried important messages.
Thirtieth anniversary (2004) recipients of the Aldo Starker Leopold Wild Trout Medal were Ray J. White and R. P. Van Gytenbeek. A grant from Advanced Telemetry Systems, Inc. made the design by Ernie Schwiebert and minting of a physical medal possible to formalize these prestigious awards.
Old Faithful Lodge and Inn - 100 years old and counting - provided more than enough room for the conference. The Inn and nearby Old Faithful geyser offered a wonderful environment to meet old and make new friends plus enjoy the excellent state-of-the-art presentations that typify Wild Trout Symposiums.
Wild Trout VIII Photo Album
Courtesy of Marty Seldon, Liz Mamer, Steve Moore, Jennifer Courtney, Carol LoSapio and Joe Kozfkay.
