Get to know me: (warning to all, this will be lengthy)
I have reviewed the posts today, and for the most part sat on the sidelines. First of all I want to state that I understand completely the request to �register on my own,� but I am not certain what good it would do. Ken�s Hatchery was invited to this forum, not me. The only reason that I am the one posting is because of my background, job duties, and beliefs. To understand the way our office works, you must take the following into consideration. Although Ken�s Hatchery deals in customers throughout the United States (and some beyond), we are actually a very small company. We have a handful of biologists, all of which work on the farm and in the ponds except for me. Our office unit consists of three and a half employees. Delores handles accounts payable, Stephanie W. Handles accounts receivable, Stephanie N. (part time) handles shipping and assists me in the lab (but is a full time nursing student), and then there is me. I balance being the only biologist in office, I dispatch the delivery trucks, I research for Ken, and I handle all of the internet �business.� This last part of my job entails our website, our emails, internet research as stated above, and now this forum. Ken�s health has deteriorated significantly over the past few years, and his time in the office is limited daily. I tell you all of this as background for the point I stated above (registering on my own). If I was to �break away� and become a separate �entity� from the hatchery I do not believe the questions would change. I would still be the poster for the hatchery, and will have added another �job� so to speak by breaking out on my own. I may be mistaken, but I do not see what purpose this would serve.
The pictures will come, as the fish are there. I could post 20 plus year old slides, but if Wal-Mart could not develop them due to poor quality (deterioration over time), I doubt seriously that anyone on this forum could view them either. As for recent photos, none have been taken because the proof and documentation were accomplished in the first decade or so. I do intend to change that though by posting fresh photos when I am able. The fish are there, but the time is not. I am entertaining the thought of taking my father (retired) to the farm this weekend for some father daughter time with a rod and reel. If this works out on my time line, I will most definitely document the entire event with photos, rulers, scales, and plenty of smiles. I know that no one here knows me well enough to �trust� me just on my words, but I am an honest person who believes in her work. I have heard the testimonies from customers of the fish they have been able to grow, and I have seen first hand what the Georgia Giant can �grow up to be.�
Greg I have no personal problem with you, but have on occasion felt I was under mental attack. The questions you have posed to me for the most part have gone without an answer because I simply do not know. I have had little time to compare (only been here three weeks), but at the present time I �sit on the fence� (50-50) with what I have learned at work versus the methods used by most here on the forum. I believe the calcium we use is a gypsum base, but I can�t be for sure so don�t hold me on that. The Bufferin is a sodium bicarbonate. Why do we recommend these? Because that is what I have been taught. I have stated on numerous occasions that pond management is not my area of expertise. But I have also asked for an appropriate amount of time to research and form my own opinions. To the credit of you and others on board, I have read enough to see the need for ag lime. But again I am taking a scientific approach of my own before responding. Respect me enough to grant me that time and please hold off on the barrage of questions. If you cannot give me that, then you will just have to post questions and except the fact that I will not answer until I am comfortable with the topic.
As for the ongoing commentary on the degeneration of the Georgia Giant, I believe it goes without saying (even though I have stated often) that under our stocking plan an F-8 should not even exist. The Georgia Giant is not a means to an end, but is instead an end in itself. The program that I recommend supports a balanced pond with a variety of decent sized fish. A family pond if you would. Do we use the Georgia Giant to grow trophy bass? No! A bass fisherman should not follow my STANDARD recommendations, because they will be disappointed. There is a level of maintenance required by the customer when a pond is stocked with a high number of fish. It is not �high maintenance,� but is a higher level needed then would be for a customer who visits his pond twice a month. For that customer, the number of fish recommended would be drastically reduced to suit the situation. That is why it is so important to listen to the individual needs of each customer and aid them in a way that will result in the pond that they want.
I am appreciative of the respect that many have shown me since I joined this forum. I am a �newbie,� and the variety of information here goes way beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Thank you Bob for allowing me to stay, and thank you to the many others for the patience you have shown. The answers will come in time!
I am taking the liberty to post a photo below that will at least put a face to these posts. Granted I am not holding a pole or string of fish, but photos just aren�t my cup of tea. I also want to introduce you all to my tadpole, my life.
Sorry for the lengthy thread (some of you are probably asleep by now), but I just felt that some things needed to be said.
Thank you all,
Deb
Editor's note...I took the liberty to remove the photos. Safety first. No disrespect intended.
Lusk
