Jake Petrasch Male • United States of America

Jake Petrasch, fully named Jake John Garrit Petrasch Jr., is the proprietor of Valley Anglers, nestled in Vermont's Mad River Valley. His business specializes in guided fly fishing trips and provides a broad array of fishing gear, including rods, reels, and wading equipment. With a career spanning over twenty years, he has extensive experience in education, property management, site coordination, and fly fishing. His passions also extend to surfing, skateboarding, biking, hunting, and fly fishing in both saltwater and freshwater, always finding time for his family.

He earned a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from St. Lawrence University in 2001 and a Master's in Middle-Level Education from Johnson State College in 2007, supplemented by coursework at the National Outdoor Leadership School with credits from the University of Utah.

His multifaceted career has seen roles such as a teacher, site coordinator, property manager, and logistics coordinator. In 2005, driven by a passion for teaching and fly fishing, he founded Valley Anglers LLC, where he combines his love for the sport with education, teaching clients various fishing techniques.

Starting in 2010, he served as a Head Teacher and Behavior Specialist at Counseling Services of Addison County, where he supported expelled or troubled students. He later joined Harwood Union High School as a paraeducator, providing crucial academic support and developing programs to assist students in the Learning Resource Center.

In 2014, he took a role at Montpelier High School, coordinating educational outings and co-teaching a CrossFit program, contributing significantly to student development. Since 2018, he has been with Integrated Property Services LLC, managing and maintaining properties in the Mad River Valley, showcasing his diverse skill set.

On the personal front, he was born on July 20, 1977, in Fort Worth, Texas, and adopted at ten days old. Growing up in Nantucket, he embraced various sports and activities, which shaped his lifelong love for the outdoors. He met his wife while attending university, and they married in 2005 in Stowe, Vermont. They have since moved to Williston, Vermont, for their children's education.

Fly fishing is more than a hobby for Jake Petrasch; it played a pivotal role in his sobriety, which began in 1999. His journey to sobriety was marked by personal growth and community service, helping distribute stocked trout with the New York Fish and Wildlife. He enjoys both freshwater fishing in Vermont and saltwater fishing in Belize. Additionally, his love for motorcycles and surfing highlights his adventurous spirit, often riding to Maine's beaches during the hurricane season.

His life story is a testament to his resilience, embodying a commitment to family, career, and sobriety. His narrative is rich with experiences that continue to inspire those around him as he lives by the mantra to "Hold Fast" through all of life's challenges.