Grand Opening Festivities

On April 23, 24, 25, we celebrated the Grand Opening of our new greenhouse facilities as well as the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Aquaponics Innovation Center.

On Thursday, we hosted the official Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, which was attended by officials from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, state and local government and community members.  Friday’s event included UWSP faculty, and Nelson and Pade, Inc.’s customers and vendors.  On Saturday, the local community joined us for tours and activities for kids.   See the Grand Opening Photo Gallery

Pictured in the photo above:

FRONT ROW (left to right)
Bernie L. Patterson, Chancellor- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Regina Millner, Regent Vice President –University of Wisconsin
Joan Ballweg, Wisconsin State Legislature Representative
Tricia Braun, Deputy Secretary and COO- Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
John S. Pade, Nelson and Pade, Inc. Co-Founder, Co-Owner and Chief Technology Officer
Rebecca L. Nelson, Nelson and Pade, Inc. Co-Founder, Co-Owner and Chief Branding Officer
Dr. Christopher Hartleb, UW-Stevens Point Professor of Biology, Co-Director of NADF
Christopher P. Cirmo, Dean, College of Letters and Sciences, UW-Stevens Point
Cate Rahmlow, Sector Development Manager, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
David A. Brukardt, Associate VP, Office of Economic Development, UW-Stevens Point

PICTURED BACK ROW (left to right)
MaryAnn Lippert, Director of Northern Region Office, Wisconsin Department of Administration
Camille Solberg, Regional Director for Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson
Laura Brigman, Student Governance Association Senator, UW-Stevens Point
Kendra Koback, Miss Wisconsin USA 2015

We appreciate the excellent media coverage for the events.

Here are links:

• WSAW TV news coverage, Wausau, WI
• State Representative Joan Ballweg’s Video Update
• Column: New Partnership Keeps Wisconsin at the Forefront of Aquaponics
• Stevens Point Journal – Aquaponics Innovation Center Opens in Montello
• The Pointer – New Aquaponic Center
• Wisconsin Public Radio, Glen Moberg Show: UW-Stevens Point Partners With Private Company On Aquaponics Research Facility
• Marquette County Tribune
• Route 51 with Glen Moberg, WI Public Radio, 1 hour show

Watch Videos of the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Presentations:

• Welcome by Christopher P. Cirmo, Dean, College of Letters and Sciences, UWSP
• Chancellor Bernie Patterson
• Tricia Braun, WI Economic Development Corporation
• Regina Milner, Regent Vice President, UW System
• John Pade, Nelson and Pade, Inc.
• Rebecca Nelson, Nelson and Pade, Inc.; Dr. Chris Hartleb, UWSP
• Closing by Christopher P. Cirmo, Dean, College of Letters and Sciences, UW-Stevens Point

The Partnership
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Nelson and Pade, Inc. have partnered together to create the Aquaponics Innovation Center, the nation’s largest aquaponics research facility, which will provide a source of education and resources for economic and workforce development. The Aquaponics Innovation Center is housed within Nelson and Pade, Inc. state-of-the-art controlled-environment greenhouse. Included in the 4,800 square feet of the Aquaponics Innovation Center is six aquaponic fish and soil-less plant production systems that will be used to conduct and replicate research benefiting the industry. Together, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Professor of Fisheries Biology Dr. Christopher Hartleb and Co-Founders Rebecca Nelson and John Pade, have developed the first-of-its-kind, University Aquaponics Course.

International entrée’s featuring aquaponically grown fish and vegetables.
Guests enjoyed a catered meal featuring aquaponically grown produce and tilapia from Nelson and Pade’s greenhouse, as well as Atlantic salmon and hybrid walleye from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility. Entrees included:  Fish Tacos (tilapia), English Fish and Chips (tilapia and hybrid walleye), Aquaponically-grown Salad (romaine, bib and leaf lettuce, swiss chard, kale, basil, beefsteak and blush tomatoes, cucumbers and nasturtium flower), Spanish Paella (tilapia and salmon), and Moroccan Tagine (tilapia and salmon).

Friday’s Festivities
The Grand Opening festivities continued on Friday in a form more similar to that of a reunion.  Nelson and Pade growers, customers, and past workshop attendees were given their own day for viewing the environmentally controlled greenhouses and Clear Flow Aquaponic Systems®.  The estimated 200 hundred attendants also enjoyed the world seafood menu, while updating the Nelson and Pade team on their aquaponic farm’s progress and projects.

Saturday was Community and Kid’s Day
Capping off the event on Saturday was an open house for the community.  It was an introduction to aquaponics and controlled environment agriculture for the majority of the 500+ visitors that toured the greenhouses.  Children took home fish toys and novelties from several activities and games, as parents left wide eyed with a new understanding of the future of sustainable agriculture.