2008 waterfowl and pheasant stamp design contest winners announced
MADISON -- A painting of a canvasback pair by Brian Kuether of Greenfield is the winning entry of the 2008 Wisconsin Waterfowl Stamp contest, while a painting of a pair of roosters by Craig Fairbert of Ladysmith is the winning entry in the 2008 Wisconsin Pheasant Stamp design contest.
Judging for the 2008 waterfowl and pheasant stamp design contests took place in Oshkosh on August 24, 2008, at the annual Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival. A total of 20 waterfowl entries and 12 pheasant entries were received from around the state. The judging panel included Arthur Anderson, the artist featured on the current 2007 Wisconsin Waterfowl Stamp, Clarence Kunde of Wisconsin Ducks Unlimited, Mike Derrick, a wildlife artist and art/photography teacher, and Dave Austin, a wildlife artist and retired art teacher.
The winner of the 2008 Waterfowl Stamp Contest, Brian Kuether, grew up in rural Wisconsin where he gained an appreciation of the natural world, landscapes, and wildlife that surrounded him. He has traveled extensively throughout the country in search of wildlife subjects and continues to reflect the outdoor experience in his work. Kuether resides in Greenfield, Wisconsin, with his wife and their two children.
The first runner up for this year’s contest was Jon Rickaby of Green Bay with a painting of a pair of wigeons. The second runner up was John Nemec, Jr., of Peshtigo with a pair of hooded mergansers.
Proceeds from the sale of the $7 waterfowl stamps are used for developing, managing, preserving, restoring and maintaining wetland habitat in Wisconsin and Canada for waterfowl and other wetland associated wildlife species. Wisconsin duck and goose hunters are required to purchase “stamp approval” through the Automated Issuance License System in order to have a valid license, but will not receive an actual stamp unless they request it. DNR service centers will have the stamps available for free to everyone with stamp approval. Anyone else interested in collecting the stamp may purchase one directly from the DNR.
The 2008 waterfowl stamp can be viewed on the DNR Web site at: [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/wetlands/watrstmp.htm]. Previous waterfowl stamp winners can be viewed at [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/wetlands/stmpwinners.htm].
The winner of the 2008 Pheasant Stamp Contest, Craig Fairbert, is originally from Milton, Wisconsin, and spent several years in the Madison area attending college and working as an illustrator. He and his wife and four sons currently reside in Ladysmith, where Fairbert works as an artist for a screen printing and embroidery business specializing in wildlife art. Even outside of work Fairbert enjoys painting, as well as bow hunting and musky fishing. Fairbert has had a lot of success in recent years, winning and receiving runner-up recognition in several of the stamp contests, including the 2008 Great Lakes trout/salmon stamp contest and was first runner-up in the 2008 turkey stamp contest.
This year’s Pheasant Stamp contest first runner-up was Russ Meyer of Oconomowoc. Second runner-up was Anthony Lilly of Oak Creek, and third runner-up was Vernon Javes of Appleton.
The 2008 pheasant stamp can be viewed on the DNR Web site at: [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/pheasant/pheasantstamp07.htm]. Previous pheasant stamp winners can be viewed at: [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/pheasant/pstampprevious.htm].
Sales of the $10 pheasant stamp annually brings in more than $370,000 for developing, managing, conserving, and maintaining the wild pheasant population in the state and contributing to the stocking of put-and-take pheasants on Wisconsin’s public hunting grounds. A pheasant stamp is required to hunt pheasants in the state of Wisconsin.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: on the Waterfowl Stamp Design Contest contact: Michele Cipiti at (608) 266-7408; on the Pheasant Stamp Design Contest contact: Sharon Fandel at (608) 261-8458
