Thank You to all who attended and participated in the 2025 USTFA fall conference in Hunter, NY!
The United States Trout Farmers Association (USTFA) Fall Conference has officially wrapped up! We are beyond grateful to everyone who helped make this year’s gathering such a truly unforgettable experience.
A special thank you to our inspiring speakers and presenters (listed below), our generous sponsors (listed below), our dedicated vendors (listed below), and to our gracious farm tour host, Brittany Peachey with Hudson Valley Fisheries, who welcomed us with open arms. We are also deeply appreciative of our auction donors – and of each and every one of you who showed up, shared your energy, and made this conference so special.
Being part of such a passionate, innovative, and close-knit community is an incredible gift. Together, we’re not just growing trout – we’re growing an industry filled with collaboration, inspiration, and camaraderie.
Ugly Trout Farmer Award
In USTFA tradition, last year’s recipient of the association’s prestigious Ugly Trout Farmer Award, Jackie Zimmerman, selected and presented the award to this year’s new awardee – and the winner of this year’s Ugly Trout Farmer Award is…
Johnathan Blakey!
Past Ugly Trout Farmer Award Recipients
Election of USTFA Officers and Board of Directors – Johnathan Blakey Elected as President
At the conference, USTFA members elected two directors to the USTFA board, and the board elected a new slate of officers. Johnathan Blakey was elected as USTFA president (additional officers below), and the two newly elected USTFA directors are Jackie Zimmerman (incumbent) and Landon Talbot (incumbent).
With the newly elected mentioned above, the USTFA officers and directors include:
Johnathan Blakey, President
Danielle Florenzen, Vice President
Brittany Peachey, Treasurer
Allen Conklin, Secretary
Landon Talbot, Director
Jesse Trushenski, Director
Jackie Zimmerman, Director
Katie Harris, Director
Tour
After our two days of sessions and events, Brittany Peachey hosted a tour of Hudson Valley Fisheries. The tour was very well attended, and tour guests got to see it all – from operations to finished product.
Thank You / 2026 Conference
Thank you again to all those who attended and participated in this year’s USTFA fall conference – we hope to see you all next year at the 2026 USTFA fall conference, mid-September (dates TBD) in either Boise or Twin Falls, ID, which will be hosted by Riverence!
Conference Sponsors
Aquaculture Information Exchange
Aquatic Equipment and Design
Troutlodge
Rangen
Pacific Seafood
Merck
AquaTactics
Zeigler
Skretting
Riverence
Conference Vendors
Syndel
sales@syndel.com
(800) 283-5292
syndel.com
BioMar A/S
catwe@biomar.com
(452) 550-5085
biomar.com
Aquatic Equipment and Design
info@aquaticed.com
(407) 995-6490
aquaticed.com
AQUA Sightline
info@sightline.com
(703) 563-3000
sightline.com/aquaculture
Zeigler Bros Inc
info@zeiglerfeed.com
(717) 677-6181
zeiglerfeed.com
Cargill Incorporated
ewos-us_feedorders@cargill.com
(985) 839-3400
ewos.com/ca
Skretting
tim.harder@skretting.com
(207) 632-4535
skretting.com
AquaTactics Bimeda
aquatactics@bimeda.com
(425) 629-8099
aquatactics.com
Merck Animal Health
jacqueline.zimmerman@merck.com
(208) 603-0336
merck-animal-health-usa.com/species/aquaculture
OxyGuard North America
support@oxyguard.us
(973) 400-8026
oxyguard.us
Aquaculture Information Exchange
jtclark@vaseagrant.org
(804) 684-7362
aquainfoexchange.org
InWater Technologies
stephanie.king@inwatertech.com
(250) 734-3569
inwatertech.com
EmO3
davegilbert@emo3.com
(866) 805-8003
emo3.com