Veterans, families connect with public lands at Hogan/Luce fishing event
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CODY, Wyo. – Veterans, their family members, volunteers and the Bureau of Land Management came together June 1 under sunny skies and on calm waters to fish, paddle, and celebrate veterans and public lands at the inaugural Veterans Family Fishing Classic at the Hogan/Luce Recreation Area near Cody.
Close to 100 people enjoyed the free event hosted by the BLM Cody Field Office, FishingCommunity.Org and the local community. Highlights included shore and boat fishing, fishing instruction, barbecue lunch and complimentary fishing supplies and raffle prizes. Participants also enjoyed the recent improvements at Hogan/Luce, which support the BLM’s priority to be a good neighbor and make the site more accessible for people with disabilities. The improvements include accessible picnic tables, fire rings, bear boxes and a brand new canoe/kayak dock.
“I thought the event was a huge success and it was great seeing the Vets out there with their families,” said R.J. Ludwick, Post Commander from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post 2673.
The BLM and FishingCommunity.Org thank all the co-hosts who made the event a success—VFW Post 2673, Albertsons, Downrange Warriors, NextGen Park County, Gradient Mountain Sports, Advance America and Cody Coffee Roasters.
“This fantastic day wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our partners, sponsors and the community,” said Rick Tryder, BLM outdoor recreation planner. “We look forward to hosting future events and finding additional recreational opportunities to help veterans and their families connect with public lands.”
Fisheries for Veterans Project, a partnership between FishingCommunity.Org and the BLM, uses America’s public lands to provide recreational, educational and job training opportunities, and provides rehabilitation and healing capacities for veterans and families. This partnership, and the Hogan/Luce event in particular, supports the BLM’s commitment to increase access for hunting, fishing and recreation on public land.
The BLM and FishingCommunity.Org hope to make this an annual event. If you are interested in participating, contact Rick Tryder at rtryder@blm.gov or 307-578-5900. For more information about the Fisheries for Veterans Project, visit www.F4V.org.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.