NEWS & STORIES
Veterans enjoy a remarkable day of angling at Westover Farms
Westover Farms in Steelville Missouri offers a private, secluded setting for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing participants and Volunteers to bond. The stream rambles through acres of pastures with on site hatchery, lodging and store. The setting is beautiful, peaceful complete with healthy rainbow trout.
Wednesday, June 20th, The St Louis VAMC program volunteers and participant s headed to Steelville for a day of fishing. Time to put those casting lessons and new flies to the test.
The trip was planned for 25 additional VA participants to join however, bus breakdowns curtailed those plans. The intimate setting with only 16 participants and volunteers provided to be a remarkable day of practice, laughs and some lunkers to hand. Trout candy proved to be the most effective fly but success was found with a large variety. Despite the rising temps, fish cooperated until the last group packed up to head home. Great day, laughs and whoops could be heard through out the property. All found solace in the treasured time together, success on our own creations of flies and rods, casting challenges through the property with back bushes, low hanging trees. For just a day, all time stopped. This is the healing we talk about – as I go through the camera roll, smile after smile from participants and volunteers a like.
Several of us used sick days so that we could join in this outing and it was sure worth it. Thank you to Lisa and Tom at Westover Farms
Subway for our lunches. Looking forward to September when we have a chance to immerse ourselves in this gem of a place again!
