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Walnut Hill’s ‘The Tank’ Named 2011 Ag Innovator
September 18, 2011
The Escambia County Extension Service has named “The Tank” in Walnut Hill as the 2011 Ag Innovator for Escambia County.
Vernon Hiebert has been a catfish producer in Escambia County for more than 15 years, but after several years of depressed prices and increasing production costs, he decided that he needed to do something drastically different if he wanted to keep his enterprise afloat.
The prices he was receiving for his live fish at the catfish processing plant were not keeping pace with his costs, but the demand for catfish was increasing. He decided to direct market his product locally to individuals and eventually stores and restaurants by building The Tank — a 32-foot wide indoor pool that can hold up to 20,000 catfish at a time.
The Tank, Hiebert says, offers the freshest tasting catfish anywhere—none of that musky flavor that makes catfish taste “off.”
He seines fish from one of his production ponds each Monday and brings 800–1200 lbs of live fish into the Tank. The water in the tank is recycled; it goes through a three-stage filter system ensures the freshest water. The fish have three days to purge themselves in the clean water, removing impurities that might cause off-flavor.
The round indoor tank uses a system of fences to contain fish to a certain part of the pool, or move them toward an electric “elevator” that lifts them out of the water. Shoppers can take the fish home whole or have them dressed, or cleaned. He has standing orders from one high end grocery store in Pensacola and several seafood restaurants that are happy to offer a local freshwater fish choice on their menus.
Hiebert is a huge supporter of Escambia County Extension. During their 2010 Farm Tour, he hosted 120 visitors to The Tank and offered each person samples of his fish prepared by frying and by grilling. Before the stop, several people said that they were interested in learning more about catfish product but not in eating any of the samples because he or she didn’t like catfish. Most of the naysayers changed their tune once they were coaxed into trying the fish by Hiebert.
His innovative business has been instrumental in helping Escambia Extension with a major part of its clientele — local consumers. Hiebert’s operation is in the heart of Walnut Hill—the center of Escambia County agriculture. His business draws people to North Escambia where people can see local agriculture and purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Local agritourism has great potential in an area like Escambia County that has a large local and tourist population, and The Tank is a great way to get people out of the city and into the areas where farmers can sell directly to the consumers, according to the Extension Service.
Escambia County’s one thriving catfish industry is down to three producers — one of which sells only to processing plants, one who markets to plants and has a fee fishing operation, and Hiebert’s The Tank.
Pictured top: Vernon Hiebert corrals catfish at The Tank in Walnut Hill. Pictured inset: Catfish in the crystal-clear waters of The Tank. Pictured below: The Tank can hold 20,000 catfish. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
19 Responses to “Walnut Hill’s ‘The Tank’ Named 2011 Ag Innovator”
Good Job!!! We’ve always known how good your fish were!! Its about time that everyone else found out!! Congrats and keep up the good work!
I have gotten catfish here several times, and it is the best. His cleaning if very interesting as well as the tank. I have never seen someone that could clean a fish that fast. I also have to agree that he is a super nice person.
I have purchased catfish several times and have been completely satisfied .when I order the fish they are ready and always fresh,you have the best that i have been able to find locally
Now if we can bring our wild caught snapping turtles into “The Tank” for simular foul taste purging………………………………..
I find it interesting that it only takes three days to change the taste.
I would have guessed it would take much longer.
Good job.
I think the comments have said it all, congradulations Sir!
I think thats a great idea.Yes I agree Mr.Hiebert is very friendly and he has the best catfish ever.The first time i went there to purchase fish i almost ended up in molino!!!! Thanks to Melvin aka Tunche!!lol for thise directions.But as I called Mr.Hiebert for directions I finally made it there after about 5 calls to him for turning dowm the wrong road.But I must say he has a very clean environment.Friendly and always has a smile on his face.He never treats you like a stranger.The tank smells just like the catfish taste “FRESH”.SMART CHOICE and may GOD continue to bless you and your buisiness.
Awesome Job!!!!!!!!! I agree, innovation isn’t dead in America! In fact, its just down the road!
It make me very happy to see this story.
Mr. Hiebert is thinking outside the box. This is the kind of mindset we desperately need in our local area. He had the vision to see that something can be done better, he was willing to take the risk and has seized the opportunity.
I’m proud to affiliate myself and the company I work for, albeit in a small way, with Mr. Hiebert and “The Tank”.
And, yes, you can absolutely taste the difference!
CONGRATS, Vernon! YES! YES! Best catfish anytime, anywhere. You know what kind we love but we can eat any size. Proud to be your neighbor. I know you have really worked hard.
i traveled all the way from Dothan AL to get enough of his catfish to feed 300 people at our open house and no one was dissappointed. great place. great fish.
And then there were three.At one time Escambia county had eighteen fish growers that produced three million pounds of fish,a feed supplier.an aerator manufacturer,a fingerling producer,a seiner,etc.What happened?Low prices caused by cheap unsafe, google (safe catfish) imported fish from China and Vietnam.Submitted by one of the three.
Good, clean catfish. We go there and I can say there are no better catfish deals. Friendly folks, too…
Very smart move: with the economic situation the way it is, fuel cost going up (small decreases at the end of summer don’t compensate for the overall increases), and the current trend of grow and source locally food when possible, this is going to be the way to go with produce and meats where it is feasible.
Any doubts as to quality, just do a search for water conditions in the overseas countries where catfish are coming from at cheap prices.
No mud taste they are great,,,,, I wish we like fish 4 days a week like we do chicken,, lol
If anyone wants the best catfish in the south,I encourage yall to go to ” The Tank”. They are not like pond fish,although they do come from the pond originaly, but they do not taste like the pond. Best fish ever.Keep up the good work Vernon.
I’ve tried ‘em and they are “as advertised” You can’t beat ‘em. Hmmm, think I’ll call mr. Hiebert up and place an order.
This just proves that innovation is NOT dead in America! If you can build a better mouse trap people will buy it! Good for Mr. Heibert for being resourceful and a good marketing strategist!! I wish more people would research and develop new methods for farming/fishing, etc. in this area!
In my opinion, Steve’s Catfish Farm up in Mc David has some of the best tasting catfish around and this comes from one of those “snobs” who doesn’t normally care for catfish. Took the kids out there yesterday and they had a blast catching cats up to 9 lbs.