Garden Pond | Wonderful World Of Koi: Fishy Business In Olmstead Hosts Show
At Kenny Coleman’s farm, you’ll find thousands of koi, the colorful fish often found in decorative ponds.
“It’s a hobby that got totally out of control,” Coleman said of his passion for koi and water gardens. It started innocently enough about 25 years ago when he built his first garden pond. Then he began building ponds for friends and others and finally, eight years ago, he started his business, Country Koi & Water Garden. This weekend, Coleman is hosting the Inaugural IKONA (Internet Koi of North America Show) which will bring many koi breeders and owners and their fish to Logan County.
“This is the first koi show in this part of the country,” Coleman said.
Steve Childers, editor of Koi USA magazine and Associated Koi Clubs of America (AKCA) certified judge, arrived in Olmstead Wednesday with his fish and said there will probably be around 50 to 60 koi entered in the show.
“It’s a wonderful hobby,” Childers said. “We want people to come out and enjoy the show.”
Whether you already raise koi, want to learn more about them or just want to check them out, Childers said to come on out. There will be many people who know a lot about koi and would be happy to answer questions.
“We like nothing better than to talk koi,” he said.
People from Indiana, Illinois, Florida and other states will be bringing their koi to compete in the show. Koi are divided into categories based on size and are judged on body conformation, color quality, pattern, quality and elegance and character and personality.
Koi can grow quite large and Childers said grand champions are usually 27 to 28 inches long. Koi can also live for several years with the larger champions ranging in age from 4 to 12 years old.
Childers explained that koi originated in Japan many years ago when
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