Each year that I have been doing my salmon project I had hopes of getting a full grown salmon mount to show my students. In the past, I would relate to the salmon’s size by explaining to my students that these little 3 inch fish can grow up to the size of the aquarium and bigger. Unfortunately, other than in pictures the students find while researching salmon on the Internet, most have never seen a salmon in person. I felt that it would enhance my program substantially if they could see a salmon replica hanging over the aquarium to get a concrete example of the size of a salmon. It would create a meaningful connection with the students to the salmon. Over the years, I have tried unsuccessfully to find someone to donate one. That all changed a few weeks ago.
Mr. Lou Wynia and his company, Wynia Fish Replicas, out of Hawick, Minnesota was kind enough to donate a Chinook salmon replica valued close to $600. His generosity has allowed our students to see first hand what our salmon grow up to become after we have released them. They can not believe that our little 3 inch salmon grow to be the size of the replica. The look on their faces when they first saw it the first time was priceless.
I also would like to thank Mr. Steve Devaney. Without his help Mr. Wynia's generous donation would not have been possible. | 
