Marvelous May

Oh my, what a marvelous May, bursting with blossoms, events and opportunities. Looking out my window, the lake is a brilliant blue, contrasted by myriad shades of green on the freshly leafed trees. Bright sunshine illuminates the splash of jumping fish and the scent of lilacs fills the air.

Our May started with a trip to Minnesota for the University of MN Aquaponics Symposium on May 2. Rebecca Nelson was both a keynote speaker and panelist at this event.  A few days later, we hosted a planning meeting for DATCP (WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection) at our education and training greenhouse facility in Montello.

On Thursday, May 11, Nelson and Pade, Inc.®, along with a handful of other thriving Wisconsin businesses, was recognized as a finalist for the Governor’s Export Achievement Award at the Wisconsin International Trade Show in Milwaukee, WI. Rebecca attended this event, which showcased opportunities for Wisconsin business in the Export Market.  The conference was a very positive experience; one that will help advance our vision of food security for all nations by creating innovative pathways for our company to facilitate the success of new aquaponics projects around the globe.

On the same day, May 11, the Nelson and Pade Team welcomed Dr. Myron Kebus, WI State Aquaculture Veterinarian, and his students for a tour of our facility and the UWSP-Aquaponics Innovation Center with Dr. Hartleb.  It is always a pleasure to have Dr. Kebus visit. His students were fascinated by aquaponics and the possibilities it creates for the study of fish in veterinary science.

On May 12, we offered our ½ day Aquaponics Seminar in Montello. Sixteen attendees spent their Friday afternoon learning about aquaponics.  This is always a popular training session which highlights the benefits and methods of aquaponic food production as well as introducing attendees to Nelson and Pade, Inc.® and the aquaponics industry.

It was a nice surprise to open the Spring, 2017 issue of WI Academy of Science, Arts and Letters magazine, released in mid-May. It focusses on Wisconsin People and Ideas and Nelson and Pade, Inc.® is featured in an article written by Nivedita Sharma.

On May 16, we will welcome back the STEM Shuttle, operated by the Dream Flight USA Foundation.  The STEM shuttle is a mobile classroom in which students learn how to design a space station, operate a robotic arm and study star maps, among other things.  Nelson and Pade, Inc.® is a sponsor of the STEM shuttle, providing funding for continued STEM shuttle visits and integrating a work station on feeding people in space with soilless food production.   When the STEM shuttle arrives at our business campus, we will host nearly 90 local 5^th grade students and their teachers for activities on the STEM shuttle, aquaponic greenhouse tours and lunch.

Rounding out our training for May is a one day Business and Investment Opportunities in Aquaponics Class followed by the Lab sessions for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Introduction to Aquaponics course, co-taught by Dr. Chris Hartleb, Rebecca Nelson and John Pade.

In addition to all of that, our Team has been busy fulfilling orders for Clear Flow Aquaponic Systems®. In May, systems were shipped throughout the US as well as to Malawi, Africa. A large commercial systems is ready to be shipped to Creekside Farms in Neenah, WI.

The last few days of May will be restful and as we prepare for June, which includes a 3-day Aquaponics Master Class®, participating in the prestigious Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership’s EXPORTECH program and advancing Nelson and Pade, Inc. License Agreements with Green Relief in Canada and Aquaponics Bulgaria, Ltd., who will represent us in Bulgaria and the Balkins.