2021 NTA Major Award Winners

After cancelling the scheduled 2020 convention due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NTA came roaring back to Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the 50th annual National Taxidermist Association convention, competition and trade show. The NTA had been at this facility three times before, in 2005, 2011 and 2019, and each time I was impressed with the Ramkota facility and staff. It was a great place to host the 2021 National Taxidermy Championships.

Everyone was happy to be back at a national convention and eager to reunite with all of their old friends and colleagues. The enthusiasm was noticeable and the competition did not disappoint. The entries were among the highest calibre that I had ever seen at a single show.

I was honored to return for the 31st time as the official show photographer. As the winners were announced and $13,250 in prize money was awarded by Master of Ceremonies Russell Knight, photos of the winning entries were projected on the big screen. Here are the studio photos of the major award winners from the 2021 NTA competition as they were shown when the awards were handed out on Saturday night, July 24, 2021.

NTA 2021 Major Award Winners

Taxidermist of the Year
The Theodore Roosevelt Lion Award – $1,000.00
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas 196 Sable

The Breakthrough Best of Show Award
Judges’ Choice Best of Show – $1,000.00
WES MOTE Tuttle, Oklahoma 356 Whitetail Deer

The WASCO Award
Most Artistic Entry – $250.00
CLINT RICKEY Dodgeville, Wisconsin 127 Aoudad

NTA Competitor’s Award – Division of Excellence
First Place – $1,500.00
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana 262 Cuttbow Trout
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana 260 Westslope Cutthroat Trout
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana 261 Westslope Cutthroat Trout
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana 263 Brook Trout

NTA Competitor’s Award – Division of Excellence
Second Place – $1,000.00
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 284 Wild Turkey
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 285 California Quail
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 286 King Eider
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 287 Northern Shoveler / Wigeon hybrid

NTA Competitor’s Award – Open Division
First Place – $1,000.00
LANCE VAN DUSEN Lawson, Missouri 219 Axis Deer
LANCE VAN DUSEN Lawson, Missouri 220 Silver Fox
LANCE VAN DUSEN Lawson, Missouri 221 Gemsbok
LANCE VAN DUSEN Lawson, Missouri 222 Whitetail Deer

NTA Competitor’s Award – Open Division
Second Place – $500.00
NICK GENEREUX Crookston, Minnesota 249 Black Bear
NICK GENEREUX Crookston, Minnesota 250 Black Bear
NICK GENEREUX Crookston, Minnesota 251 Black Bear
NICK GENEREUX Crookston, Minnesota 252 Black Bear

NTA Competitor’s Award – Open Division
Third Place – $250.00
ERIN KRINGS Hawkings, Minnesota 157 Bobcat
ERIN KRINGS Hawkings, Minnesota 158 Pine Marten
ERIN KRINGS Hawkings, Minnesota 159 Whitetail Deer
ERIN KRINGS Hawkings, Minnesota 160 Fisher

Best All-Around Taxidermist
Highest Combined Score in Four Categories in Open Division – $100.00
KENT ALLARD Sydney, Nebraska 208 Black Bear
KENT ALLARD Sydney, Nebraska 209 Mule Deer
KENT ALLARD Sydney, Nebraska 210 Prairie Rattlesnake
KENT ALLARD Sydney, Nebraska 211 Red Crested Pochard/Speckled Teal Hen

Distinguished Taxidermist Award
Entry has previously won a Judges’ Best of Show at another qualifying competition – $150.00
JENA EVERAGE Versailles, Indiana 191 Whitetail Deer

Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy
First Place – $250.00
CRAIG WESTBROEK Plain City, Utah 131 Common Goldeneye

Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy
Second Place – $150.00
LANCE VAN DUSEN Lawson, Missouri 220 Silver Fox

Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy
Third Place – $100.00
BILL NEUMAN Bismarck, North Dakota 347 Steinbok

NTA Best of Show Collective Artists
Judges’ Choice for Best Collective Artists Entry – $300.00
JAMES BENSON and JARED GLIMSDAHL East Grand Forks, Montana 177 Bighorn Sheep

Master’s Choice Award
Selected by convention attendees
MIKE NAKIELSKI Iron Ridge, Wisconsin 248 Shoveler

Henry Wichers Inchumuk Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Lifesize Mammal, Size of Squirrel or Smaller – $100.00
ROSS RICHARD Herriman, Utah 274 Raccoon

Joseph Bruchac Memorial Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Whitetail Deer – $100.00
WES MOTE Tuttle, Oklahoma 256 Whitetail Deer

Chris Barnhardt Memorial Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Gamehead – $100.00
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas 196 Sable

Brian Harness Memorial Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Lifesize Mammal – $100.00
BILL NEUMAN Bismarck, North Dakota 347 Steinbok

National Wild Turkey Federation Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Turkey – $100.00
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 284 Wild Turkey

North American Champions

North American Champion Turkey
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 284 Wild Turkey

North American Champion Whitetail Deer Open-Mouth
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
WES MOTE Tuttle, Oklahoma 256 Whitetail Deer

North American Champion Whitetail Deer Closed-Mouth
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
JENA EVERAGE Versailles, Indiana 191 Whitetail Deer

North American Champion Large Gamehead
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas 196 Sable

North American Champion Large Mammal
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
JOHNNY RISINGER Mt. Enterprise, Texas 339 Whitetail Deer

North American Champion Small Mammal
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
BILL NEUMAN Bismarck, North Dakota 347 Steinbok

North American Champion Coldwater Fish Skin Mount
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana 262 Cutbow Trout

North American Champion Bird
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 129 California Quail

North American Champion Habitat
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
CLINT RICKEY Dodgeville, Wisconsin 127 Aoudad

NTA Best Habitat Award
Judges’ Choice for Outstanding Habitat – $100.00
CLINT RICKEY Dodgeville, Wisconsin 127 Aoudad

National Champions

National Champion Whitetail Deer Open-Mouth
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
TIM SCHROEDER Huxley, Iowa 309 Whitetail Deer

National Champion Whitetail Deer Closed-Mouth
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
TOM HANSEN Windom, Montana 300 Whitetail Deer

National Champion Small Gamehead
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
ABEL EVERAGE Versailles, Indiana 337 Coyote

National Champion Large Gamehead
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
PAUL KLAR Broadus, Montana 254 Pronghorn Antelope

National Champion Large Mammal
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
NICK GENEREUX Crookston, Minnesota 251 Black Bear

National Champion Small Mammal
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
ERIN KRINGS Hawkins, Wisconsin 160 Fisher

National Champion Reptile Skin Mount
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
ROYCE DAKE Ulm, Utah 279 Prairie Rattlesnake

National Champion Warmwater Fish Reproduction
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
SCOTT LULA Wisdom, Montana 288 Shevelnose Sturgeon

National Champion Waterfowl
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
TIM COOLEY Akeney, Iowa 302 Pintail

NTA Best Bird Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Bird – $100.00
TIM COOLEY Akeney, Iowa 302 Pintail

National Champion Bird
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
TIM COOLEY Akeney, Iowa 303 Ringneck Pheasant

National Champion Habitat
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
CRYSTAL HALFHILL Scottsdale, Pennsylvania 137 Groundhog Habitat

Other Awards

NTA Impact Award
Sponsored by Champions Choice – $200.00
ERIN KRINGS Hawkins, Wisconsin 160 Fisher

NTA Virtuoso Award
Sponsored by Pro-1 for excellence in “Molding & Casting” – $200.00
WES MOTE Tuttle, Oklahoma 256 Whitetail Deer

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Whitetail Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply – $100.00
WES MOTE Tuttle, Oklahoma 256 Whitetail Deer

NTA Best of Show Novice
Judges’ Choice for Best Novice Entry – $100.00
MICHAEL RYSAVY Brookings, South Dakota 244 Black Crappie

People’s Choice Award
The Charley Haynes Memorial Award – $100.00
JAMIE BRINCKS Council Bluff, Iowa 334 Horse

Delia Akeley Award
Best entry by a female competitor selected by convention attendees – $100.00
JAMIE BRINCKS Council Bluff, Iowa 334 Horse

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Lifesize Mammal Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply – $100.00
JAMES BENTON East Grand Forks, Minnesota 178 Moose Calf

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Fish Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply – $100.00
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana 262 Cutbow Trout

The Polytranspar Award
Highest Scoring Fish Painted with Polytranspar – $100.00
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana 262 Cutbow Trout

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Reptile Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply – $100.00
ROYCE DAKE Ulm, Utah 280 Ball Python

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Bird Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply – $100.00
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 284 Wild Turkey

NTA Best of Show Taxidermy Sculpture
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association – $100.00
BILL NEUMAN Bismarck, North Dakota 349 Marco Polo Sheep

People’s Choice Taxidermy Sculpture
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association – $100.00
BILL NEUMAN Bismarck, North Dakota 349 Marco Polo Sheep

NTA Best of Show Original Art
Selected by the judges collectively from all first-place winners in the five Original Art categories – $100.00
TIM HECHT Jackson, Minnesota 318 Elephant

People’s Choice Original Art
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association – $100.00
CHARITY NEWMAN Shadehill, South Dakota 126 Pencil Drawing