If there was a Best in World award for the most outstanding state taxidermy convention, Texas would surely take the gold medallion. It is amazing how a show this good continues to improve year after year, but it does! The 2018 TTAI convention was the biggest and the best so far, with over 200 superb entries and probably well over 500 enthusiastic attendees. The Board of Directors works tirelessly to make everyone feel welcome and keep everything running smoothly. The Killeen Civic Center and adjacent Shilo Inn and Suites Hotel are a perfect venue, and with several years of experience at this location, the logistics of the show went smoothly without a hitch.
For the fourth year in a row, I was honored to be asked to be the show photographer. As the mounts rolled in, it became clear to me that this was to be a stellar year for the competition. The judges, Brenda Duvall, Jack Emery, Ron Kelly, Jim Kimball and Bill Neuman, definitely had their work cut out for them in choosing the top winners from such a talented pool.
During the awards banquet, Brian Fees projected a Powerpoint presentation which included the photos of the winning entries as the winners were announced. I am pleased to present the major award winners below in reverse order as they were announced at the awards banquet on Saturday night, June 23, 2018.
Texas Taxidermy Association Inc. 2018 Major Awards
Judges’ Best of Show – Breakthrough Award
Sponsored by Breakthrough
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, TX 0078 Aoudad
Best of Masters Division
Chosen by the Judges
MICKEY BOWMAN Lawton, OK 1268 Brook Trout
Best of Professional Division
Chosen by the Judges
MARK HERNANDEZ Pearsall, TX 2287 Bufflehead
Texas Best All-Around Award
Highest combined scores of four entries in each Bird, Mammal, Whitetail or Gamehead, and Fish or Reptile category
JAMES NEWPORT Pearsall, TX Largemouth Bass, Surf Scoter, Pig, Whitetail
Competitors’ Award (Two Winners)
Highest combined scores of four entries
Winner #1: KYLE LANDRY Grand Isle, LA Emperor Goose, Mallard, Redhead, Common Eider
Competitors’ Award (Two Winners)
Highest combined scores of four entries
Winner #2: PAUL KLAR Broadus, MT Pronghorn Antelope, Pronghorn Antelope, Mule Deer, Mule Deer
Masters Bird Challenge
Live speed-mounting competition
BRANDON ZAHN Boling, TX Pintail
Masters Gamehead Challenge
Live speed-mounting competition
MARK HERNANDEZ Pearsall, TX Whitetail Deer
McKenzie Taxidermists’ Choice Awards
McKenzie Taxidermists’ Choice Best Lifesize Mammal
Sponsored by McKenzie
STEVE ROLAN Durham, NC 0083 Alaskan Wolf
McKenzie Taxidermists’ Choice Best Gamehead
Sponsored by McKenzie
JAMES NEWPORT Pearsall, TX 1250 Whitetail Deer
McKenzie Taxidermists’ Choice Best Fish
Sponsored by McKenzie
MICKEY BOWMAN Lawton, OK 1268 Brook Trout
McKenzie Taxidermists’ Choice Best Bird
Sponsored by McKenzie
KYLE LANDRY Grand Isle, LA 1271 Emperor Goose
TTAI People’s Choice Awards
People’ Choice Best of Show
Chosen by the Competitors
MARK COUTURE Granbury, TX 0046 Bobcat
Studio Division First Place
Chosen by the Competitors
SAFARI STUDIOS, JIMMY FONTENOT San Angelo, TX 5005 Tiger and Axis Deer
Studio Division Second Place
Chosen by the Competitors
DAMUTH TAXIDERMY, GARY DAMUTH Granbury, TX 5013 Rhinoceros
Studio Division Third Place
Chosen by the Competitors
HUFFAKER TAXIDERMY, JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, TX 5010 Leopard
Best of Masters Division
Chosen by the Competitors
STEVE ROLAN Durham, NC 0083 Alaskan Wolf
Best of Professional Division
Chosen by the Competitors
JACEY BROUSSARD Moss Bluff, LA 2297 Whitetail Deer
Best of Amatuer Division
Chosen by the Competitors
COREY VEACH Gonzales, TX 4029 Hog
Original Arts First Place
Chosen by the Competitors
SIERRA GUIDRY BRYAN, TX 3019 Texas Rat Snake
Texas State Champion Awards – Masters Division
Texas State Champion, Reptile
Highest Scoring Masters Entry
ROBERT ROWE Stillwater, OK 0076 Snapping Turtle
Texas State Champion, Fish (Skin Mount)
Highest Scoring Masters Entry
MICKEY BOWMAN Lawton, OK 1268 Brook Trout
Texas State Champion, Upland Game Bird
Highest Scoring Masters Entry
MARK PONTIUS Coweta, OK 0066 Rio Grande Turkey
Texas State Champion, Waterfowl and Shorebirds
Highest Scoring Masters Entry
KEN HOWARD Fort Worth, TX 1259 Green-Winged Teal
Texas State Champion, Small Mammal
Highest Scoring Masters Entry
BEN CROMEENS Houston, TX 0086 Ocelot
Texas State Champion, Large Mammal
Highest Scoring Masters Entry
JAMES NEWPORT Pearsall, TX 1251 Pig
Texas State Champion, Whitetail
Highest Scoring Masters Entry
JAMES NEWPORT Pearsall, TX 1250 Whitetail
Texas State Champion, Gameheads
Highest Scoring Masters Entry
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, TX 0078 Aoudad
Best of Category Awards – Professional Division
Best of Category Upland Game Bird
Highest Scoring Professional Entry
JOHN PAUL BARBER Kerrville, TX 2278 Bronzed Wing Cow Bird
Best of Category Waterfowl
Highest Scoring Professional Entry
MARK HERNANDEZ Pearsall, TX 2287 Bufflehead
Best of Category Small Mammal
Highest Scoring Professional Entry
K. D. GRAHAM Sallisaw, OK 2293 Bobcat
Best of Category Whitetail Deer
Highest Scoring Professional Entry
NATHANIEL COOK Graham, TX 2238 Whitetail Deer
Best of Category Gameheads
Highest Scoring Professional Entry
JAKE PIKE Spicewood, TX 2225 Coues Deer
TTAI Sonsored Awards
Mule Deer Foundation Award–Masters
Highest Scoring Mule Deer in Masters Division
JAMES YARBOROUGH Cedar Park, TX 1276 Mule Deer
Mule Deer Foundation Award–Professional
Highest Scoring Mule Deer in Professional Division
JOSH GUENTHER Marion, TX 2303 Mule Deer
Amateur Division Horizon Award
Sponsored by Research Mannikins
MICHA STEVENS Sweeny, TX 4014 Gadwall
Second 2 Nature Award
Sponsored by Second 2 Nature
ANTHONY YANTA Beeville, TX 2241 Bobcat
Polytranspar Award
Sponsored by McKenzie
TERRY JOHNSON Mesa, AZ 1258 Brook Trout
Lifetone Award
Sponsored by ChemOddities
WAYNE STANFORD Copperas Cove, TX 2269 Bluegill
Pro 1 Award
Sponsored by Pro 1 Hide Paste
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, TX 0078 Aoudad
Brian Harness Award
Sponsored by the TTAI
SCOTT BURTON Amarillo, TX 2239 Coyote
Carlos Adams Award
Sponsored by Kim And Danny Owens
KEN HOWARD Fort Worth, TX 1259 Green-Winged Teal
TTAI Akeley Award
Sponsored by James Newport
ROBERT MAJOR Las Cruces, NM 1261 Bighorn Sheep
Van Dyke’s Award
Most Original and Creative Presentation
SHANE DAVENPORT Gilmer, TX 1256 Otter
Taxidermy Today Woody Award
Sponsored by Taxidermy Today
JAMES NEWPORT Pearsall, TX 1251 Pig
Research Mannikins Award
Sponsored by Research Mannikins
STEVE ROLAN Durham, NC 0083 Alaskan Wolf
WASCO Award
Most Artistic Entry
KEN HOWARD Fort Worth, TX 1259 Green-Winged Teal
Youth Awards
BeetleShack Judges’ Choice – Youth
Chosen by the Youth Judges
SHANNON TRAVIS Springtown, TX 6045 Whitetail Deer
First Place Age 15–17 Category
Chosen by the Judges
SHANNON TRAVIS 6045 Whitetail Deer
People’s Choice–Youth
Chosen by the Competitors
NOLA LANDRY North Zulch, TX 6039 Raccoon
Second Place Age 9–14 Category
Chosen by the Judges
NOLA LANDRY North Zulch, TX 6039 Raccoon
Second Place Age 15–17 Category
Chosen by the Judges
GREGORY LANDRY North Zulch, TX 6041 Bobcat
First Place Age 9–14 Category
Chosen by the Judges
ANNALESIA FARLEY Canyon Lake, TX 6044 Redfish Reproduction
First Place Age 8 and Under Category
Chosen by the Judges
ISABELLA BAILEY Wylie, TX 6035 Bufflehead
Second Place Age 8 and Under Category
Chosen by the Judges
TAEGAN (TAC) CRISP Lamesa, TX 6049 Coral Snake