World Taxidermy & Fish Carving Championships®
2017 MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
Here is the list of the top awards for the 2017 World Taxidermy & Fish Carving Championships® as they were revealed during the banquet on Friday night, May 19, 2017 in Peoria, Illinois. Photos of the winning entries will be published in future issues of Breakthrough Magazine.
MAJOR TAXIDERMY AWARDS
Simon T. Blackshaw Award for the Judges’ Choice Best of Show – $1,000 from Research Mannikins
CAROLIN BRAK-DOLNY, Frankford, Ontario, Canada
63 Red Panda Re-creation
The Chairman’s Award
GOULD, DeVILLERS and HUTTON, St. Charles, Iowa
387 Zebra Foal
Best All-Around Taxidermist, Master Division – $2,000 from Ohio Supply
JASON KRAUSE, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
231 Striped Skunk Gamehead, 233 Skunk, 235 Timber Rattlesnake, 236 Starling
Carl E. Akeley Award – $1,000 from WASCO
MIKE NAKIELSKI, Iron Ridge, Wisconsin
271 Black Duck Trio
Carl E. Akeley Award, Second Place
BRET WINGFIELD, Sydney, Nebraska
362 Largemouth Bass
Carl E. Akeley Award, Third Place
GEORGE ELEKES, LaSalle, Ontario, Canada
115 Wolf Trio
Master of Masters
TERRY WEICK, Hopkins, Michigan
276 Striped Bass Group
Master of Masters, Second Place
BRIAN HENDRICKS, Scottville, Michigan
15 Bobcat
Master of Masters, Third Place
DANNY OWENS, Lubbock, Texas
390 Bald Eagle
MASTER DIVISION TAXIDERMY
For the first time in the history of World Competition, ALL 16 World Championship titles were awarded at the 2017 show.
Best In World, Whitetail
GENE SMITH, Louisville, Georgia
374 Whitetail Deer
Second In World, Whitetail
CLINT RICKEY, Dodgeville, Wisconsin
141 Whitetail Deer
Best In World, Large Mammal
BILL NEUMAN, Bismarck, North Dakota
82 Mountain Goat
Second In World, Large Mammal
JOSHUA HUNT, Morgan, Utah
94 Rocky Mountain Elk
Third In World, Large Mammal
GEORGE ELEKES, LaSalle, Ontario, Canada
115 Wolf (Standing)
Best In World, Medium/Small Mammal
CAROLIN BRAK-DOLNY, Frankford, Ontario, Canada
72 Coyote Pup
Second In World, Medium/Small Mammal
CLAY WAGNER, Lott, Texas
388 Bobcat
Third In World, Medium/Small Mammal
MICHAEL DOYLE, Rockford, Michigan
169 Bobcat
Best In World, Large Gamehead
OWEN ELDRED, Lake Isabella, Michigan
181 Sika Deer
Second In World, Large Gamehead
JERRY HUFFAKER, Abilene, Texas
255 Bezoar Ibex
Third In World, Large Gamehead
JUSTIN HINSON, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
300 Wild Boar
Best In World, Medium/Small Gamehead
REBECCA WILCHER, Ashdown, AR
241 Pronghorn Antelope Fawn Yearling
Second In World, Medium/Small Gamehead
JAMES NEWPORT, Pearsall, Texas
372 Boar Piglet
Third In World, Medium/Small Gamehead
JASON KRAUSE, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
231 Striped Skunk
Best In World, Waterfowl
ERIC PERRY, Goldhill, North Carolina
207 Mallard Drake
Second In World, Waterfowl
MIKE NAKIELSKI, Iron Ridge, Wisconsin
271 Black Ducks
Third In World, Waterfowl
MARK BENFIELD, Lincolnton, North Carolina
172 Wood Duck (Drake)
Best In World, Turkey
TODD CAPITANO, Farnham, New York
365 Wild Turkey
Best In World, Game Bird
SAM CAHOY, Aberdeen, South Dakota
268 Sandhill Crane
Second In World, Game Bird
MIKE ORTHOBER, Egg Harbor, Wisconsin
344 Hazel Grouse
Third In World, Game Bird
JONATHAN WRIGHT, Mesick, MI
285 Ringneck Pheasant Rooster (Single)
Best In World, Non-Game Bird
LENNART PETTERSSON, Balinge, Sweeden
174 Starlings
Second In World, Non-Game Bird
JOHNATHAN WRIGHT, Mesick, Michigan
291 Great Horned Owl
Third In World, Non-Game Bird
ALLIS MARKHAM, Los Angeles, California
150 African Jacana
Best In World, Coldwater Fish Skin Mount
TIM GORENCHAN, Escanaba, Michigan
248 Sockeye Salmon
Second In World, Coldwater Fish Skin Mount
TERRY WEICK, Hopkins, Michigan
279 Brown Trout (Top Fish)
Third In World, Coldwater Fish Skin Mount
MATTHIAS FAHRNI, Orpund, Switzerland
40 Brook Trout
Best In World, Warmwater Fish Skin Mount
TERRY WEICK, Hopkins, Michigan
281 Lake Sturgeon & Longnose Sucker (Lowest Rear)
Best In World, Largemouth Bass Skin Mount
BRETT WINGFIELD, Sydney, Nebraska
362 Largemouth Bass
Best In World, Re-Creation
CAROLIN BRAK-DOLNY, Frankford, Ontario, Canada
63 Red Panda
Second In World, Re-Creation
JOSH GUGE, Hampshire, Illinois
259 Cape May Warbler
Third In World, Re-Creation
KENT REEDY, Dixon, Iowa
84 Labrador Duck
Best In World, Mixed Group
CAROLIN BRAK-DOLNY, Frankford, Ontario, Canada
67 Cross Fox and American Toad
Best In World, Reptile/Amphibian/Other Skin Mount
JASON KRAUSE, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
235 Timber Rattlesnake
Best In World, Reproduction
TYLER ERICKSON, Brookings, South Dakota
359 Yellow Perch
Second In World, Reproduction
SCOTT HUMBLE, Springville, Utah
334 Desert Tortoise
Third In World, Reproduction
DON FRANK, Smithville, Missouri
325 Longear Sunfish
Best In World, Collective Artists – $1,000 from Tohickon
FOREST HART, PHIL SOUCY, JAMES SMITH, MIKE FOSS, KEVIN NEIDIGH and WILL ARNOLD, Libby, MT
384 Snow Leopard
Best of Category, Collective Artists, Recreations and Reproduction – $400 from Tohickon
TYLER ERICSON and RANDY NELSON, Brookings, South Dakota
357 Black Crappie
Best of Category, Collective Artists, Mixed Group – $400 from Tohickon
DAVE DUNN, RICK KRANE and DOUG ECK, Wasilla, ALaska
378 Grizzley and Chum Salmon
Best of Category, Collective Artists, Bird – $400 from Tohickon
MATT TAINTER and MIKE NAKIELSKI, Westby, Wisconsin
419 Brandt
Best of Category, Collective Artists, Lifesize Mammal – $400 from Tohickon
FOREST HART, PHIL SOUCY, JAMES SMITH, MIKE FOSS, KEVIN NEIDIGH and WILL ARNOLD, Libby, MT
384 Snow Leopard
Best of Division, Interpretive Art – $1,000 from The Wildlife Gallery
FRANK NEWMER, Gladwin, Michigan
293 Mandarin
Second Place, Interpretive Art – $300 from World Show Prize Fund
LENNART PETTERSSON, Balinge, Sweeden
176 Starlings
Third Place, Interpretive Art – $200 from World Show Prize Fund
KUMBERLY KUENZEL, Fayetteville, Arkansas
293 Ross Geese
Competitors’ Choice Award
BILL NEUMAN, Bismarck, North Dakota
82 Mountain Goat
Best In World, Live Taxidermy Sculpture
JIM BEENKEN, Eagle River, Wisconsin
12 Bear Cub
Second In World, Live Taxidermy Sculpture
BILL NEUMAN, Bismarck, North Dakota
83 Lynx
Third In World, Live Taxidermy Sculpture
JOHN SANZO, Tweed, Ontario, Canada
496 Fisher
Best of Category, Taxidermy Sculpture, Mammal
JIM BEENKEN, Eagle River, Wisconsin
14 Mountain Lion
PROFESSIONAL DIVISION TAXIDERMY
Best Professional Entry – $1,000 from McKenzie
DAI JIN, Yantai City, China
215 Laughing Kokaburra
Best of Category, Lifesize Mammal
DAVE SCHMIDT, Palmyra, Wisconsin
147 Wolverine (Bottom)
Best of Category, Whitetail Deer Head
JAMIE CAMERON, Bolivar, Pennsylvania
43 Whitetail Deer
Best of Category, Gamehead
ROSS RICHARD, Herriman, Utah
89 Pronghorn Antelope
Best of Category, Bird
DAI JIN, Yantai City, China
215 Laughing Kokaburra
Best of Category, Reptile, Amphibian, Invertebrate
ASHLEY FRIENDSHUH, Prior Lake, Minnesota
333 Ball Python
Best of Category, Reproduction
JAMIE CAMERON, Bolivar, Pennsylvania
46 Rock Bass
Best of Category, Skeleton
263 Mata Mata
Best Novice Entry
EDGAR PALMAS, Cypress, Texas
315 Coyote
Best Youth Entry
ELLIOT BRINCKS, Washburn, Iowa
311 Bluegill
COMPETITOR’S AWARDS
Competitors’ Award, Master Division, First Place – $5,000 from Big Rock/Head Quarters
TIM GORENCHAN, Escanaba, Michigan
248 Sockeye Salmon, 249 Pink Salmon, 251 Brown Trout, 250 Whitetail Deer
Competitors’ Award, Master Division, Second Place – $3,000 from Big Rock/Head Quarters
CAROLIN BRAK-DOLNY, Frankford, Ontario, Canada
72 Coyote Pup, 63 Red Panda Re-creation, 65 Coyote, 73 Northern Leopard Frog
Competitors’ Award, Master Division, Third Place – $2,000 from Big Rock/Head Quarters
TERRY WEICK, Hopkins, Michigam
281 Lake Sturgeon & Longnose Sucker, 279 Brown Trout, 278 Brown Trout, 280 Brown Trout
Competitors’ Award, Master Division, Fourth Place – $1,500 from Big Rock/Head Quarters
MIKE NAKIELSKI, Iron Ridge, WI
271 Black Ducks, 273 Blue-Winged Teal, 275 Wood Duck, 274 Pintail
Competitors’ Award, Master Division, Fifth Place – $1,000 from Midwest Fur Dressing
MARK BENFIELD, Lincolnton, North Carolina
172 Wood Duck, 168 Green-Winged Teal, 167 Mallard Drake, 170 Hooded Merganzer
Competitors’ Award, Master Division, Sixth Place – $750 from Payer Eyes
ERIC PERRY, Goldhill, North Carolina
207 Mallard Drake, 212 Bufflehead, 210 Harlequin Drake, 205 Mallard Hen
Competitors’ Award, Professional Division, First Place – $3,000 from Big Rock/HeadQuarters
GREG SCHMIDT, Palmyra, Wisconsin
143 WOlverine, 147 Wolverine, 142 Black Bear, 145 Black Bear
Competitors’ Award, Professional Division, Second Place – $2,000 from Big Rock/Head Quarters
MATT TAINTER, Westby, Wisconsin
422 Ringneck Pheasant, 425 Oldsquaw, 420 Whitetail Deer, 421 Ringneck Pheasant
Competitors’ Award, Professional Division, Third Place – $1,250 from Big Rock/Head Quarters
JAMIE CAMERON, Bolivar, Pennsylvania
43 Whitetail Deer, 46 Rock Bass, 45 Bluegill, 44 Rainbow Trout
Competitors’ Award, Professional Division, Fourth Place – $750 from Payer Eyes
JORDAN HACKI, Warrensburg, Illinois
456 Blue Goose, 458 Red Fox, 457 Ringneck Pheasant, 454 Ringneck Pheasant
Competitors’ Award, Professional Division, Fifth Place (Tie) – $625 from Midwest Fur Dressing
NICHOLAS GENEREUX, Crookston, Minnesota
96 Black Bear, 102 Otter, 98 Whitetail Deer Doe, 104 Fisher
Competitors’ Award, Professional Division, Fifth Place (Tie) – $625 from Big Rock/Head Quarters
ETHAN LIESENFELD, Dubois, Wyoming
133 Black Bear, 134 Bighorn Sheep, 132 Bison, 131 Pine Marten
FISH CARVING
Judges’ Choice, Best of Show, Fish Carving – $1,000 from Sugar Pine Woodcarving
TED RICHMOND, Shawnee, Kansas
444 Brook Trout “Home Delivery”
Best In World, Open Level, Decorative Lifesize Fish Carving – $500
MICHAEL BUELNA , Orland, CA
447 Rock Greenling
Second In World, Open Level, Decorative Lifesize Fish Carving – $300
JOSH GUGE, Gilberts, IL
433 Blue Angel Fish and Batwing Crab
Third In World, Open Level, Decorative Lifesize Fish Carving – $200
DAVE SPROUT, Lina, Wisconsin
449 Brown Trout
Best In World, Open Level, Decorative Miniature Fish Carving – $500
SCOTT HUMBLE, Springville, Utah
409 Tiger Trout
Best In World, Open Level, Natural Finish Fish Carving – $500
TED RICHMOND, Shawnee, Kansas
444 Brook Trout “Home Delivery”
Best of Show, Intermediate Level, Fish Carving
CHRIS LANKFORD, Rancho Santa Margarita, California
489 Leafy Seadragon
Best of Show, Novice Level, Fish Carving
WILLARD COCCO, DeWitt, Michigan
451 Bluegill
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