Fishing, communing with nature, listening to guest speakers, activities for kids and the chance to grab a bite, will be offered Saturday, September 20 at a free event at Marshalltown Community College pond and campus grounds. This inaugural fishing festival is not only a way to celebrate the start of fall, but to also aid in the pond and outdoor nature learning lab beautification efforts.

“The pond is dying from all the sentiment. We’re trying to save it, and that’s where (the idea for) this festival started,” said event coordinator Biology Professor Dr. Danielle Kness. “Next month we will drain the pond. So we thought if people can get the fish out of the pond before we dredge it, that would be great.”

Fishing at the pond will kick off at 7:30 a.m. and go until 1 p.m. Holy Grounds Food Truck will be serving coffee and breakfast goodies.

Fishing spots needed to be reserved in advance, and are now full.

“We have about 100 people signed up,” she noted. “We’re not sure how well the fishing conditions are, so we’re just warning fishing conditions are not optimal.”

All participants need to have a valid Iowa fishing license and bring their own gear if possible. There will be limited tackle and bait available.

The event is catch-and-keep. Fish can be taken home.

“Or they can donate them to a wildlife rehabilitation group we’re working with to feed some raptors that are being treated that are sick,” she added.

Two mobile fish cleaning stations and ice will be available. All fishing participants will get a goodie bag with five free raffle tickets.

This outdoor learning area consists of 20 acres on the southside of campus. The pond and prairie was installed in the 80s. In the 90s, a forest was restored on the campus.

“Gary Fulton and the Boy Scouts of Marshalltown planted 1,100 trees in a month on campus. So we have a forest and a pond and a prairie on the southside by the cross country track. Most people are familiar with the cross country track, but don’t realize there’s actually something else back there,” Kness said.

This space has remained largely unused.

“What I’ve been working on for the last couple years is getting it cleaned up so it’s accessible for our students and the public to fish or go walking or hiking, and we can actually use it as a classroom space for students. It’s a hidden gem,” she said.

The restoration efforts are about three-fourths completed. Trees damaged in the 2020 derecho had to be removed.

The nature and wildlife festival will run 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with educational talks every 30 minutes from the following presenters:

Busy Bee Acres

S.O.A.R. (Saving Our Avian Resources)

DNR Education Trailer

Plant.Grow.Fly. with the Blank Park Zoo

Local naturalists

Marshall County Master Gardeners

Youth activities will include a toddler fishing pool game, Ducky Derby Race, make and take bird and insect homes, paint-a-pot plant station and temporary tattoo booth. There will be a scavenger hunt at 9:30 a.m. At 11 a.m. the Bio Blitz will see kids exploring and racing to find listed wildlife to take pictures and win prizes.

A raffle drawing is set for 12:30 p.m. (you don’t have to be present to win). Tickets are one dollar each or six for $5, in advance and at the event. Prizes include gift cards, a new kayak, themed gift baskets and more.

KIX 101.1 will be doing a live broadcast during the event from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Clare’s Tenderloins By Mya and Big Acai will be on-site.

Funds raised from the raffle will aid in renovating the outdoor nature learning lab. The goal is to have the pond fully functional by summer 2026.

For more information, reach out to Kness at: Danielle.Kness@iavalley.edu or 641-844-5788.