Trout Pond Visit Part Of 4-H Club’s Revival
On a warm spring afternoon in late April, the sound of laughter and splashing water echoed across the fields at Ingleside Trout Fish Out Farm, where two small ponds shimmered beneath the open sky. About 20 local children and their families gathered for an afternoon of fishing, learning, and community — a celebration of hands-on education and the revival of the 4-H Stockman’s Club.
After a period of dormancy due to a lack of leadership, the Stockman’s Club was restarted last fall by Rosalea Potter, owner of Buffalo Creek Beef and Cattlemen’s Market. Since stepping into the role, Potter has worked to rebuild the program into a space for local youth to grow through agriculture, teamwork, and practical experience.
“Through my first year as club leader, I have watched these young people mold and excel their leadership characteristics into traits that will serve them well not only in their youth but for a lifetime,” Potter said. “It’s been exciting to see their enthusiasm — and amazing that we can harness all this program encompasses in the Shenandoah Valley, where agriculture is very prevalent and gives us lots of opportunities for us to live the 4-H motto: ‘To make the best better.’” The April event was an example of the organization and fulfillment the club runs on. Children began the afternoon by gathering around the ponds to hear from Jennifer Leech of Ingleside Trout Farm, whose family has operated the hatchery since 1990. Leech explained how her parents, after discovering a spring-fed source of cold water, learned how to farm rainbow trout through Extension Service classes in North Carolina. Today, they raise approximately 120,000 all-female trout each year, from egg to maturity.
The “fish out” ponds — two small bodies of water stocked with mature trout — are open to the public on weekends through June. Visitors can fish from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, with one rule: if you catch a fish, you take it home.
Leech and her brother were once members of the Stockman’s Club themselves, and she was eager to welcome the next generation to the farm. After her talk, the group crossed the road for a demonstration by Dave Demsky, former owner of Buffalo Creek Trout. With calm expertise, Demsky showed how to dress a trout, both whole and as fillets, emphasizing respect for the animal and an understanding of where food comes from.
Then it was back to the ponds, where fishing poles came out and lines were cast. Each child was invited to catch two trout to take home, a tangible reward after an afternoon of learning.
But this outing was just one chapter in a broader story of revitalization. Potter’s vision for the Stockman’s Club reaches beyond any one event. Under her leadership, the club has relaunched a 4-H livestock judging team, where participants learn to evaluate sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle. As they advance, they’re also scored on public speaking, learn- ing to explain and defend their decisions with clarity and confidence.
LOCAL YOUTHS Foster Brown, Walt Leslie and Stockton Brown fish the pond during the 4-H Stockman’s Club visit to Ingleside Trout Fish Out Farm. AT TOP OF PAGE, Andie Richardson waits patiently with her rod during the afternoon outing. For those interested in joining the club, leader Rosalea Potter encourages families to contact the Rockbridge County Extension Office to sign up. (Scotty Dransfieldphotos)
NATE REPAIR gets help from his grandmother Judy Repair while preparing to fish during the Stockman’s Club’s hands-on field trip to Ingleside Trout Farm. (Scotty Dransfield photo)
“Livestock is the platform,” Potter explained, “but ultimately these kids are working on team building and public speaking skills. Many of our 4-H kids also show livestock, but it’s not a requirement to be part of the club.”
Show season, she added, is just around the corner and will run through October. Club members will spend hours in the barn preparing their animals for events, traveling across the state to exhibit their projects. Highlights include the Rockbridge Regional Fair in September, where youth will show and sell their livestock, and the State Fair of Virginia in the fall.
“We already have interest in creating a cattle working team so we can compete in that contest next year,” Potter added. “4-H has a lot of competitions, and as this club grows, we hope to find more areas to compete in.”
The Stockman’s Club will pause regular meetings over the summer but will remain in operation. In August, the club plans to host a livestock showmanship competition. Members will also work with the chamber of commerce to connect with local business leaders and community members, laying a foundation of support when the livestock auction is held at the regional fair.
While 4-H is focused on youth development, Potter emphasized that its strength comes from family participation and shared purpose. “This is a family program,” she said. “It would not be as vibrant without the support of the parents.”
As kids reeled in their trout last month, the larger purpose of the afternoon was clear: this wasn’t just about fishing. It was about building something lasting — rooted in tradition, and casting forward into the future.
