Lindsay Agness received her Veteran’s Service Award from Mick McCorcle, vice president and member of the Board of Trustees, during Trout Unlimited Veteran’s Service Award Ceremony in Bozeman, Montana on September 30, 2016. Submitted photo
Lindsay Agness is a devoted project manager for the Enterprise Program Management Office based on the Riedman Campus. What many of her co-workers may not know is her love for fly fishing, and how she coaches disabled local veterans how to fly fish on the water.
Just recently, Agness was honored for her dedication and work with local veterans. She received the 2016 Trout Unlimited National Veteran’s Service Volunteer Award and traveled to Bozeman, Montana in September to accept it. The award recognizes the exceptional achievements and contributions of Trout Unlimited’s members, chapters, and councils.
“What an honor it was to receive such a special award for doing something that I love,” said Agness.
Agness’ love for fly fishing began in 2006 when she and her husband, David, joined Trout Unlimited (TU). She held seminars at the local TU chapter to encourage more women to try fly fishing. Several years later, she began teaching disabled veterans and it became her passion!
Lindsay Agness teaches Stevie, a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, fly fishing at a Project Healing Waters event on the Salmon River in Altmar, NY. Photo by Grant Taylor
“Due to the work I had been doing with TU and helping women in the fly fishing community, I was asked to be the official guide for a female veteran named Melissa during a fly fishing event,” said Agness. “The time I spent with Melissa really helped me learn about veterans with disabilities and showed me how much I really wanted to help them. Since then, I have never looked back.”
Agness continues to volunteer by serving on the Board of Directors with her local Seth Green (073) TU chapter. She also assists with volunteer events for Project Healing Waters, and runs a fly fishing program with her husband through OASIS Adaptive Sports.
Agness has won two additional awards over the years for her work with disabled veterans: The Proclamation Award from the Monroe County Legislature and the Leader in the Community award from Eastman Kodak Company.
“I feel like I am making a difference. I am impacting their (veterans) lives in a positive way and that keeps me coming back.”
To learn more about fly fisher Lindsay Agness and her volunteer work with veterans, visit her website at www.lindsayagnessflyfishing.com.
