Ladysmith artist wins 2009 turkey stamp design contest
MADISON -- An acrylic painting of three turkeys set in a wintry sunset landscape created by Craig Fairbert of Ladysmith is the winning entry of the 2009 Wisconsin Wild Turkey Stamp contest.
Fairbert’s entry was selected by judges from artwork submitted by 13 artists for the 2009 contest. Fairbert was first runner up in the 2008 contest, and although he has submitted entries for several of the stamp contests, this his first entry to receive a first place award and be selected for a stamp.
First runner-up in the contest was Virgil A. Beck of Stevens Point and the second runner-up was Steven Hovel of DeForest.
Judging for the 2009 Wild Turkey Stamp design contest took place in Wisconsin Dells during the statewide convention of the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) in January. The judges included a Wisconsin Chapter NWTF representative, a retired wildlife/art teacher, and last year’s Wild Turkey Stamp design contest winner, John Nemec, Jr.
Sales of the wild turkey stamps help provide future opportunities for turkey management and hunting in Wisconsin. Sales of the Turkey Stamp bring in over $500,000 annually for habitat management and restoration projects, education, research, equipment, and for managing the wild turkey program in our state. All turkey hunters are required to purchase the $5.25 Turkey Stamp to legally hunt turkeys in Wisconsin.
