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“I am Conservation”

Samantha Farthing, of Cole County, has only been tying flies for about a year, and only fly-fishing a little longer than that. “I grew up around fly-fishing and tying,” said Farthing, “but was never really interested in it until I moved back to Missouri about a year and a half ago.” Now Farthing goes fishing as much as possible. “Fly-fishing, to me, is one of the best ways to really be attuned to nature. When you are standing in the middle of the river, trying to make the fly you tied act like a real insect or animal, it’s hard not to feel a part of your surroundings. It’s the best stress relief there is. It also is so satisfying to catch a fish on a fly that you tied yourself!” —Photo by David Stonner