Winner Announced for State Wetlands Habitat Stamp Competition
OutdoorHub 02.27.12
The artwork of Jeffery Klinefelter of Indiana won first place in this year’s Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp Design Competition, sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Klinefelter’s painting will appear on theOhiowetlands habitat stamp issued in fall 2013.
The winning entry was selected from a field of 27 original paintings submitted by artists from 13 states, including 10 entries fromOhio. The competition was held on Feb. 25 at the Ohio Ducks Unlimited annual banquet in Licking County.
Second place honors went to Gunner Hilliard of New Jersey with his painting of Northern shovelers and the third place entry was by Dan Allard fromPickerington,Ohio, with his painting of a gadwall.
Last year’s winner, Tom Morgan Crain ofMissouri, will see his painting of a pair of mallards appear on the 2012 wetlands habitat stamp.
Approximately 25,000Ohiowetland habitat stamps were purchased last year, according to the Division of Wildlife. Proceeds from stamp sales help fund vital wetland habitat restoration projects inOhio. Such habitats are important to many resident wildlife species including state-endangered trumpeter swans, wetland birds, amphibians and numerous migratory species.
The judges for this year’s event included Gary Pennington, Ducks Unlimited life sponsor; Bob Loewendick, outdoor writer; Nina Harfmann, photographer; Tom Sheley, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited; and Bill Heck, president of Columbus Audubon.
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at www.ohiodnr.com.
