"Experts say that if you leave a pond go it will revert back to marsh" because of plant-matter buildup, Mark explains.
Helping with plant control–and adding to the pond's beauty–is a pair of swans. Sholts bought his first pair of swans to eat plants shortly after he first stocked the pond with trout, and it is a tradition the Hansons have continued.
The Hansons admit their enterprise has evolved largely through word-
SERENE ATMOSPHERE - A male swan glides through the shaded trout pond at Century Trout Farm.
of-mouth advertising and from people seeing their farm sign as they drive past. Recently, though, they've done a little advertising, plus their Web site–designed by Mark as part of his post-retirement part-time business–helps draw a diverse audience base.
As a fee-fishing enterprise,
anglers visiting the Century Trout Farm do not need a fishing license or
trout stamp. The farm holds an aquaculture license from the
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, plus
it must meet water-quality standards set by the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources.
While many of
their customers are farm families and neighbors, others come from the
Amish and Hispanic community, for example. Some of their business
comes from groups–Girl Scouts or companies.
Increasingly, they are attracting people from the Milwaukee and
Chicago
areas, likely an impact of the farm's website.
Much to Jean's joy, many of their customers are multigenerational
fishermen. She loves to see grandparents, parents, and children
fishing, enjoying time together.
Jean believes her
greatest strength, besides the day-to-day operation of the business, is
her ability to welcome and communicate with their customers, something in
which she gains obvious enjoyment. "Where are you from?" often is
all it takes to get the conversation
rolling.
Customers pay for the fish they've caught by
the inch. The Hansons offer fish cleaning for a small fee, so
customers can leave the farm with cleaned trout ready for the fry pan or
grill.
"It's one thing that a lot of people
hate about fish," Mark says of the fish cleaning, "so we just do it and
it's ready for the pan."
While
Jean and Mark share fish cleaning duties, it is while cleaning
fish that Mark's role as an educator comes to the fore. As
he works in the former milk house, it doesn't take long before he is
pointing out to groups, or individuals some part of a fish's anatomy or
explaining how fish thrive. When youth groups visit, an educational
lesson from Mark is standard fare.
"I'm a teacher at heart," he admits.
In 2007, State 14,
which now passes in front of their farm, will be moved to the west and
their road will become a county highway. The loss of passing traffic
may result in a need for increased advertising, or the change may segue
nicely with a more leisurely retirement–the Hansons do not know at this
point.
Having grown up with an aquaculture
enterprise, many of its operational functions come naturally to Jean. By
her words and actions, though, she demonstrates a deep
contentment and an abiding love of the land and water that started
with the influence of her father.
CATCH OF THE DAY - Mark Mazza of Madison, shows off the trout caught by his mother, JoAnn Mazza. JoAnn and her husband, Bernard, who live in Allegheny, N.Y., said the afternoon of fishing with their son was the "perfect ending" to their recent trip to Wisconsin.
"I love being down here," she says, surveying the farm's trout pond. "The people that come here are just great. Finding out about people that come is what's most fun...
"I grew up here. It's second nature," she adds, surveying the family farm. "I figure everything I want is right here."
For more information about Century Trout Farm, contact the Hansons at (608) 835-9712 or visit www.wistrout.com
Published June 6, 2003
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