Stoney Creek Fisheries and Equipment Inc./EasyPro Pond Products, a Grant, Mich.-based supplier and manufacturer of pond products, celebrated its 40th anniversary with an open house event on July 22 to 24.

Steve and LeAnn Ouwinga started Stoney Creek Fisheries in 1970 as a fish farming operation. Then, in 2000, they created the EasyPro Pond Products division, which today manufactures more than 200 products under the EasyPro brand name. In addition, the division provides EasyPro and other brands of pond supplies to landscape contractors, architects, retailers, garden centers and pond shops. Stoney Creek Fisheries continues to serve as the retail division, offering fish for pond stocking and pond supplies direct to consumers

“Growing up on the fish farm, I never dreamed our company would evolve into one of the leading manufacturers of water feature products,” said company president Dave Ouwinga. “While the fish farm is a small portion of our overall sales, it gives us an element of expertise that very few other companies can match.”

Despite inclement weather, the open house event was a great success, Ouwinga said.
The trade show featured EasyPro products as well as products from vendors, including Aqua Ultraviolet, Bio Safe Systems and Kasco Marine.

Some of the seminars held during the open house event included “Marketing and Advertising Strategies,” by Nanette Winowieki of The Pond Place in Milford, Mich.;, “Building Beautiful Water Features: Tips from a Pro,” by Eric Triplett of The Pond Digger in Yucaipa, Calif.,; and “Techniques for Sizing and Seaming Pond Liners,” by Bill Johnson of Firestone Specialty Products in Indianapolis, Ind.

In addition to the seminars and trade show, the anniversary event included an EasyPro lighting display, daily door prizes, a pig roast and a surprise party for Steve and LeAnn, who retired July 1. <HOME>