The Shawnee Freshwater Prawn Growers Association was formed in 2000 and consists of over 40 growers from Southern Illinois and Eastern

Association Events

2008 Board of Directors - The 2008 Board of Directors was elected at their Annual Meeting held February 9th at Ryan’s Family Steak House in Mt. Vernon, IL. From left President JC Lyons of Sandoval, Vice-President Scott Chadbourne of Mt Vernon, and Secretary/Treasurer Brenda Lyons of Sandoval.

Missouri Subchapter Formed - Gene Largent (Left) and Louis Clark (Right) were appointed as acting President and Secretary/Treasurer for the newly formed Shawnee Freshwater Prawn Growers Association Missouri Chapter at the prawn grower’s annual meeting held February 9th 2008 in Mt Vernon, IL. For more information about the Missouri chapter, contact Gene Largent @ (573) 594-2397 or largents_shrimp @yahoo.com.

2007 Directors Elected – The officers of the Shawnee Freshwater Prawn Growers Association were elected at the Annual Meeting. From Left President JC Lyons of Lyons Fisheries in Sandoval, Vice-President Bill Brown of Harrisburg, and Secretary/Treasurer Brenda Lyons of Lyons Fisheries. The SFPGA meets Bi-Monthly on the first Thursday at the Williamson County Extension Office, 1306 N Atchison Ave in Marion, Illinois at 7:00pm. For more information contact JC Lyons (618) 322-9113, Bill Brown (618) 926-7701 or Brenda Lyons (618) 322-9349 or (618) 247-8477.

2006 Directors Elected – The officers of the Shawnee Freshwater Prawn Growers Association were elected at the Annual Meeting. From Left President JC Lyons of Lyons Fisheries in Sandoval, Vice-President Ronnie Koch of Koch Shrimp in Metropolis, and Secretary/Treasurer Brenda Lyons of Lyons Fisheries. The SFPGA meets Bi-Monthly on the first Thursday at the Williamson County Extension Office, 1306 N Atchison Ave in Marion, Illinois at 7:00pm. For more information contact JC Lyons (618) 322-9113, Ronnie Koch (618) 524-8338 or Brenda Lyons (618) 322-9349 or (618) 247-8477.

Cortney Ohs receives recognition. SIU-C Aquaculture Specialist and researcher, Dr. Cortney Ohs receives a certificate recognizing him for his contributions to the prawn industry by supporting the Shawnee Freshwater Prawn Growers Association. Dr. Ohs has been instrumental to the association by providing data, technical assistance, support with the by-laws and creation of our association website. From left are President Ronnie Koch, Dr. Cortney Ohs, and Centralia Chapter President, JC Lyons.

2005 Directors Elected – The directors of the Shawnee Freshwater Prawn Growers Association were elected at their Annual Meeting. From Left is President Ronnie Koch, owner Koch Shrimp Farm in Metropolis, Secretary/Treasurer Carrie Hilliard, owner of Riverside Aqua Farm in Carterville, and Vice President Larry Bloodworth of Bloodworth Farms in Marion. The SFPGA meets the first Thursday of every month at the Williamson County Extension Office, 1306 N Atchison Ave in Marion at 7:00 PM. For more information, contact Ronnie Koch at (618) 524-8338, Carrie Hilliard at (618) 221-2045, or Larry Bloodworth at (618) 993-6713.

2005 Director’s Elected – The Shawnee Freshwater Prawn Growers Association’s Centralia Chapter elected their 2005 directors at their Annual meeting January 18, 2005. Their goal for the coming year is to develop a thriving aquaculture business in Southern Illinois through Best Management Practices. From Left – Secretary/Treasurer Brenda Lyons of Lyons Fisheries in Sandoval, President JC Lyons of Lyons Fisheries in Sandoval, and Vice President Lori Bahre of Bahre Fishery and Greenhouse in Oakdale. The SFPGA meets quarterly at the University of Illinois Centralia Tech Center, 100 N Locust in Centralia. For more information about the SFPGA or prawn farming, contact Brenda Lyons at (618) 247-8477 or Lori Bahre at (618) 329-5338.

Dozier Receives Honor – Dennis Dozier of Dozier Farms in Fairfield receives a certificate honoring him for his past leadership as Vice-President of the Centralia Chapter of the Shawnee Freshwater Prawn Growers Association. Dennis was instrumental in establishing the Centralia Chapter and served as Vice-President for 2003 and 2004. From left - Dennis Dozier and President JC Lyons of Lyons Fisheries in Sandoval.

The United States Freshwater Prawn and Shrimp Association held their annual meeting at the Grand Convention Center in Tunica Mississippi. Several members representing Illinois and Missouri attended the conference. The conference included presenters from around the country, aquaculture-related displays, and a business meeting where two SFPGA members were elected to the USFPSA Board of Directors. The SFPGA cookbook “I Gotta Have That Cookbook,” was also featured in presentation and by display. From left Dr Cortney Ohs from SIU-C, Kami & Scott Miller from Paris, Il, newly elected vice-president Bobby Boyd from Cobden, Jean Ellen Boyd from Shawnee Community College, newly elected director JC Lyons from Sandoval, Brenda Lyons from Sandoval, Ronnie Koch from Metropolis, Larry Bloodworth from Marion, Cameron Koch from Metropolis, Jack Lewis from Centralia, Grover Webb from Simpson, Norma & Charles Mattingly from Cape Girardeau, Mo, president Dolores Fratesi & past president Steve Fratesi from Leland, Mississippi.

Team members representing Aquaculture, and the Illinois Fish Farmers Co-op met with State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka at the State Capital Building during the Illinois Agricultural Legislative Day March 24, 2004. State Treasurer, Topinka is responsible for Public Act 20 ILCS 215/1 the “Aquaculture Development Act”. This act encourages aquaculture in the state of Illinois, to expand our food sources, promote employment opportunities, economic activity, and better use of our land and water resources of the State. The act also supports funding for the Illinois Fish Farmers Co-op. Above from left: Chris Breden, executive director of the Illinois Fish Farmers Co-op in Pinckneyville, State Treasurer, Judy Baar Topinka, Brenda Lyons, IFFC & SFPGA member from Sandoval, and Ronald Dowland, IFFC Board of Director from Greenfield.

Illinois Director of Ag Charles Hartke visits our display booth at the University of Illinois Sustainable Agriculture Conference in Effingham on Saturday, March 6, 2004. JC & Brenda Lyons of Lyons Fisheries in Sandoval gave a freshwater prawn production overview and displayed live prawns from their hatchery.

Shawnee Community College held their Annual Aquaculture Meeting for the Shawnee Freshwater Prawn Growers February 24, 2004. After dinner, presentations were given by Ronnie Koch, SFPGA President, Doug Bailey, USDA on Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Programs, Chris Breden, Illinois Fish Farmers Co-op on Prawn Production Financial Analysis, and Dr. Cortney Ohs, SIU-C on Increasing Production and Lowering Cost.

2004 Directors Elected – The 2004 directors of the Shawnee Freshwater Prawn Growers Association were elected at their annual meeting. From Left are Secretary/Treasurer Dennis Jerrell of Anna, Vice President Bobby Boyd from Bob’s Shrimp & Trout farm in Cobden, and President Ronnie Koch from Koch Shrimp Farm in Metropolis.

2004 Director’s Elected – The Centralia Chapter of the Shawnee Freshwater Prawn Growers Association’s elected their 2004 directors at their Annual meeting January 22. Their goal for the coming year is to develop a thriving aquaculture business in Southern Illinois and help teach others to maintain family farm operations through alternative agriculture. From Left – President JC Lyons of Lyons Fisheries in Sandoval, Vice President Dennis Dozier of Dozier Farms in Fairfield, and Secretary/Treasurer Brenda Lyons of Lyons Fisheries in Sandoval. For more information about the SFPGA or prawn farming, contact Brenda Lyons at (618) 247-8477 or Dennis Dozier at (618) 842-2903

Boyd Receives Honor – Bobby Boyd of Bob’s Shrimp & Trout Farm receives a certificate honoring him for his past leadership as President of the Shawnee Freshwater Prawn Growers Association. Boyd served as president for 2002 & 2003. From Left are Secretary/Treasurer Dennis Jerrell, Past President Bob Boyd, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Centralia Chapter Brenda Lyons.

Illinois Prawn Growers Meet in Tunica – The United States Freshwater Prawn & Shrimp Growers Association (USFPSGA) held their Annual Meeting at the Grand Casino Convention Center January 16th & 17th in Tunica, Mississippi. Prawn growers learned Best Management Practices, Improved Feeding Schedules, Price Demand & Marketing Strategies, Bioterrorism, And uses for by-products. Illinois producers made up ten percent of those that attended the conference. Those attending from Left – Ronnie Koch, president of the Shawnee Freshwater Prawn Growers Association (SFPGA), Larry Bloodworth, SFPGA member, Russ Wallace, SFPGA member, Jean Ellen Boyd, Shawnee Community College Liaison, Bobby Boyd, SCC instructor & vice president SFPGA, Dr. Cortney Ohs, SIUC Fisheries & Illinois Aquaculture Center, Steve Fratesi, President USFPSGA, JC Lyons, President SFPGA Centralia Chapter, Paul Hitchens, Illinois Fish Farmers Co-op, and Brenda Lyons, secretary/treasurer SFPGA Centralia Chapter.