Note to Our Readers

Faces of Conservation

Todd Gemeinhardt (top left), Sherry Fischer (top right), Michelle Dalbey (middle left), Chris Kennedy (middle right), Bill Turner (bottom)

Missourians’ aquatic interests include fly fishing for trout, catfishing on large rivers, canoeing Ozark streams and many more too numerous to mention. The great variety of water bodies in our state allows us to pursue such diverse recreational interests. Missouri’s rivers and streams range from the popular float streams of the Ozarks to the catfish-abundant prairie streams of the north to the modified streams of the Bootheel. Our lakes include privately owned ponds, water supply lakes and large reservoirs. Missouri’s geographic location and geology even provide coldwater streams that support a host of organisms that seem a world apart from the critters that live in our warmwater streams.

The diversity of our water resources presents unique challenges. Our well-trained and dedicated employees are working to meet these challenges. Allow me to introduce just a few of the professional conservationists who serve you.

Todd Gemeinhardt lives in Raymore with his wife, Nicole, and daughter, Madelyn. He received both a bachelor’s and a master’s from the University of Missouri-Columbia in fisheries and wildlife. In his free time, Todd enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. A recent highlight for him was watching his 2-year-old daughter catch her first fish. Todd particularly enjoys working with private landowners to improve their aquatic resources.

Sherry Fischer is a Stream Team biologist, and one of the things she enjoys most about her job is sharing her appreciation for aquatic resources with others. Her love of streams began at an early age, and she spent much of her childhood exploring creeks in her hometown, Jefferson City, where she still lives with her husband and two children.

Michelle Dalbey is a resource assistant at Blind Pony Hatchery, where she works raising numerous species—including the endangered pallid sturgeon. She grew up in Columbia and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor’s in agriculture. Michelle enjoys life on an old farmstead with her husband, Jeff, a cat and a dog. In her spare time she likes hunting, baking and cheering for Mizzou!

Originally from St. Louis, Chris Kennedy has spent the past 13 years working for the Conservation Department. He is now a fisheries regional supervisor in the Southeast region. Chris obtained his bachelor’s in fisheries biology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He and his wife, Nekea, live in the Cape Girardeau area where they enjoy fishing, boating, hiking and camping with their children and family.

These professional conservationists, and many others like them, are committed to working with you to conserve our water resources and provide excellent fishing. Thank you for supporting the health and recreation value of Missouri’s waterways.

Bill Turner, fisheries division chief