Staff measure the fish caught at the Tomah VA Medical Center’s Fishing Tournament. Photo by USFWS.

The 29th Annual Hospital-Wide Tomah VA Medical Center’s Fishing Tournament was held on Wednesday, May 15. The 7th and 8th grade class (125 students) from the Tomah Middle School escorted the Veterans to the VA’s Fishing Pond. The Annual Fishing Tournament is co-sponsored by the Vernon County American Legion Associations, the Genoa National Fish Hatchery, and the Midwest Fisheries Center (which includes the following offices: Fish and National Wildlife Conservation Office and the La Crosse Fish Health Center). Staff from the Genoa National Fish Hatchery stocked 500 Rainbow Trout in preparation for the annual fishing tournament held at the VA pond. Genoa National Fish Hatchery staff and volunteers also provide an annual fish fry for the veterans. The Vernon County American Legion Associations donated 100 pounds of flat head catfish that were served after a successful morning of fishing. The Tomah VAMC houses 270 veterans focusing on medical specialties such as acute medicine, acute and long-term psychiatry; vocational and social rehabilitation; Alzheimer’s assessment and management; residential substance abuse treatment and post-traumatic stress disorder.
By: Darla Wenger