The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival needs your help

The much-beloved Wenatchee River Salmon Festival needs help to move into the future. Friends of Northwest Hatcheries (Friends), a group which has supported Salmon Fest since 1991, needs new members to carry on its award-winning, natural resource-themed event.
The long-term director of Salmon Fest and President of Friends, Betsy McIndoe, steps down January 30. Sheila Bergren, the only treasurer Friends has ever had, also retires in 2018. That leaves just four board members still involved. Corky Broaddus, founder of Salmon Fest, hopes to see community members and families who have enjoyed the event in past years join in the management and upcoming transition of this iconic local festival.
The Friends group has been the primary coordinator of Salmon Fest, bringing in federal, state, and county agencies, non-profits, tribes, local businesses, schools, and other partners to provide a high quality educational field trip experience for school students throughout the region, plus a free day of outdoor fun and education for the public. It’s a big job, and an exciting one—but it’s not all that Friends does.
“The Friends of Northwest Hatcheries, a non-government non-profit organization, supports seven hatcheries throughout the Pacific Northwest,” said Corky, naming national fish hatcheries from the Columbia Gorge to Idaho to the Olympic Peninsula. The Friends group is in place for these facilities to provide crucial funding, volunteer staffing, and help with grant applications for events and educational activities. Leavenworth, Winthrop, and Entiat hatcheries are also included.
“I’d like to see us do more to improve our Hatchery system trails and youth outdoor programs,” said Natalie Briody, Vice President of Friends, who enjoys the miles of public trails at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. The board agrees that there are many great projects to work on—but it’s time for new members, new ideas, and new energy to keep the ball rolling.
To learn more, please attend the open public meeting on Wednesday, Jan.17 from 6-8 p.m. or contact Corky Broaddus at corky.salmonfest@gmail.com, 548-6662; or Julia Pinnix at Julia_pinnix@fws.gov, 548-7641.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Friends of Northwest Hatcheries is a non-profit 501(c)(3) volunteer organization whose mission is to support natural resource stewardship and education, in cooperation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hatcheries of the Northwest. Friends of Northwest Hatcheries is associated with the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, as well as other hatcheries in Washington State and Idaho. Friends is a major supporter of the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival.