TOPHER JONES
TOPHER JONES is an Idaho-based native fish conservation hero and role-model for others. He has raised almost $30,000 for native fish conservation and restoration in just a few years. Topher learned about the plight of sockeye salmon during a family vacation in the summer of 2019. Saddened by the story of Lonesome Larry, the lone sockeye to return to Redfish Lake in Idaho in 1992, he took it on himself to try to do something about it. This led to the creation of the Lonesome Larry Project, a web-based initiative that raises public awareness and money for sockeye salmon. His initial action was to design and sell socks with a sockeye salmon theme, which led to him becoming known as the “Sock Guy for Sockeye.” The only twist was that Topher wasn’t a “guy,” he was a kid of just 11-years-old. Before he had reached his teens, Topher had done more for wild native fish than most adults. Topher’s socks morphed into additional sockeye schwag such as bottle openers, keychains, decals, and t-shirts. He sells his wares online as well as Idaho Steelhead hockey games, and local businesses. Topher possesses a level of marketing savvy well beyond his years, and in spite of school, music lessons, and sports, finds a way to put in the time to make it all work. Topher’s fund is housed at Idaho Fish & Wildlife Foundation, and is available via a grant application. In 2020, Topher was awarded the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, and the Intermountain West Joint Venture Youth Conservation Award, having been nominated by Hilarie Engle, Idaho Fish & Wildlife Foundation Executive Director, and Sharon Kiefer, Idaho Department of Fish & Game Communications & Marketing Bureau Chief. NFC plans on working with Topher to better understand how to get young people interested and involved in native fish conservation, as well as tapping him for schwag and marketing ideas. Topher can be reached at Info@NativeFishCoalition.org. You can learn more about Lonesome Larry Project at www.LonesomeLarryProject.com.
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“Topher Jones gives us hope that native fish conservation will live on long after we are gone. He’s working on solutions to problems at an age when most of us didn’t even know there were problems.”
