Outdoor communicators receive nearly $15,000 in awards from OWAA

MISSOULA, Mont. – The Outdoor Writers Association of America is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 Excellence in Craft Contests. First-, second- and third-place winners were chosen in seven media-based contests and three subject-based contests. Cash prizes totaled nearly $15,000. Certificates, plaques and prize money will be presented to winners at OWAA’s 84th annual conference, July 9-11, 2011, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

OWAA thanks the 2011 contest sponsors, Coleman Company, Ducks Unlimited, RealTree and The Outdoor Channel, for their continued support of this prestigious contest program.

2011 winners are as follows:

MEDIA-BASED CONTESTS

Magazine / E-Zine
Sponsored by Ducks Unlimited

Best Long Feature

• 3^rd Place: Jack Ballard, Red Lodge, Mont., “Golden,” Wyoming Wildlife, November 2010
• 2^nd Place: Marilyn Stone, Paonia, Colo., “Question of Color: Do Women Customers Really Want Pink Products?” Shot Business, October/November 2010
• 1^st Place: Bill Watt, Flagstaff, Ariz., “Fly-fishing Small Streams: Trout Dreams,” Arizona Wildlife Views, May-June 2010

Best Short Feature

• 3^rd Place: Lisa Densmore, Red Lodge, Mont., “Chinook: The Wind That Brings Relief from Winter,” Wyoming Wildlife, March 2010
• 2^nd Place: Paul Queneau, Missoula, Mont., “Crash of the Titans,” Outdoor Life, August 2010
• 1^st Place: Craig Springer, Edgewood, N.M., “American Fishes: Common Carp,” Eddies, Summer 2010

Newspaper

Best Feature Story

• 3^rd Place: Brett Prettyman, Salt Lake City, Utah, “Engineering a Self-Rescue,” The Salt Lake Tribune, Nov. 14, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Howard Meyerson, Grand Rapids, Mich., “The River We Know,” Grand Rapids Press, July 21, 2010
• 1^st Place: Howard Meyerson, Grand Rapids, Mich., “From the Start,” Grand Rapids Press, July 14, 2010

Best News Writing

• 3^rd Place: James Card, Bartlett, Tenn., “In Field Trailing, Bird Dogs Call Shots and Humans Follow,” The New York Times, Feb. 23, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Brett Prettyman, Salt Lake City, Utah, “Massive Overhaul of Deer Rules Called a Victory for Elite Hunters,” The Salt Lake Tribune, Dec. 20, 2010
• 1^st Place: Bob Frye, Greensburg, Pa., “Minorities Missing from the Outdoors,” Pittsburgh Tribune Review, May 16, 2010

Television / Videocast

Best Full-Length Program

• 3^rd Place: Grant McOmie, Forest Grove, Ore., “Grant’s Getaways # 1,” KGW-TV Portland, Ore., Sept. 12, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Wes Whatley, “Browning Expeditions: Alaskan Brown Bears,” ESPN2, Jan. 31, 2010
• 1^st Place: Dan Small, Belgium, Wis., “Deer Hunt 2010,” Milwaukee Public Television, Nov. 11, 2010

Best Feature Segment

• 3^rd Place: Dave Carlson, Eau Claire, Wis., “Chasing the Little Darlings,” Northland Adventures, June 25, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Karen Loke, Austin, Texas, “Ranger Ridley,” News 8 Austin, Texas, April 2, 2010
• 1^st Place: Dan Small, Belgium, Wis., “Asian Carp Biology,” Milwaukee Public Television, Jan. 14, 2010

Radio / Podcast

Best Short Form

• 3^rd Place: Tom Stienstra, Weed, Calif., “4-Wheel-Bob: No Limits,” KCBS-740/106.9 FM-San Francisco, Calif., March 13, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Chris Slemp, Culloden, W.Va., “Sighting for Deer Season,” West Virginia Outdoors, Nov. 12, 2010
• 1^st Place: Ty Stockton, Cheyenne, Wyo., “Duck Hunting Ain’t Cheap,” Cowboy State News Network, Nov. 3, 2010

Best Long Form

• 3^rd Place: Chris Slemp, Culloden, W.Va., “Fishing Canada Wilderness,” West Virginia Outdoors, July, 24, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Dan Small, Belgium, Wis., “Outdoors Radio Show 551,” Outdoors Radio Network WHBL 1330 AM Sheboygan, Wis., Dec. 18, 2010
• 1^st Place: Jeff Kelm, Sheboygan, Wis., “Outdoors Radio Show 550,” Outdoors Radio Network WHBL 1330 AM Sheboygan, Wis., Dec. 11, 2010

Fine Arts

Scenic

• 3^rd Place: Ron St. Germain, Grand Ledge, Mich., “A Place to Dream”
• 2^nd Place: Colleen Miniuk-Sperry, Chandler, Ariz., “Under the Stars at Lake Powell”
• 1^st Place: Bill Vanderford, Lawrenceville, Ga., “Boating Activity on the Nile at Sunrise”

Flora

• 3^rd Place: William Mullins, Boise, Idaho, “Dandelion Seeds Blowing in the Wind”
• 2^nd Place: Paul Queneau, Missoula, Mont., “Curious Cutleaf”
• 1^st Place: Tom Ulrich, West Glacier, Mont., “Oxeye Daisies”

Fauna

• 3^rd Place: William Mullins, Boise, Idaho, “Brown Bear Cub with Stick on Tidal Flat”
• 2^nd Place: Lisa Densmore, Red Lodge, Mont., “Mother Loon”
• 1^st Place: Ken Sullins, Leesburg, Va., “Brook Trout”

Action

• 3^rd Place: Colleen Miniuk-Sperry, Chandler, Ariz., “Ride With Me”
• 2^nd Place: Tom Ulrich, West Glacier, Mont., “Crimson Rumped Toucan”
• 1^st Place: Gary Kramer, Willows, Calif., “The Geese Fly Early in Argentina”

People

• 3^rd Place: Colleen Miniuk-Sperry, Chandler, Ariz., “Canoeing on Moraine Lake”
• 2^nd Place: Bill Vanderford, Lawrenceville, Ga., “People Playing in a Creek”
• 1^st Place: Colleen Miniuk-Sperry, Chandler, Ariz., “Climbing in Devils Canyon”

Photography / Illustration

Best Published Image-Newspaper

• 3^rd Place: Bill Ferris, Shippensburg, Pa., “A Polar Bear Seen in Its Natural Habitat above the Arctic Circle,” The Sentinel, June 30, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Tom Stienstra, Weed, Calif., “Where Heaven and Earth Meet,” San Francisco Chronicle, June 24, 2010
• 1^st Place: Tom Stienstra, Weed, Calif., “Shasta Lenticular,” San Francisco Chronicle, Nov. 28, 2010

Best Published Image- Non-Newspaper

• 3^rd Place: Gary Kramer, Willows, Calif., “White-cheeked Pintail Taking Flight,” Wingshooting the World, December 2010
• 2^nd Place: Mike Wintroath, Little Rock, Ark., “Hummingbird Feeding,” Arkansas Wildlife, September/October 2010
• 1^st Place: Mike Wintroath, Little Rock, Ark., “Swamp Alligator,” Annual Harvest Report, November 2010

Book / E-Book

• 3^rd Place: Mike DiLorenzo, Clinton Township, Mich., “Bows, Does & Bucks: An Introduction to Archery Deer Hunting”
• 2^nd Place: Tim Allard, Ottawa, Ontario, “Ice Fishing: The Ultimate Guide”
• 1^st Place: Eric Jay Dolin, Marblehead, Mass., “Fur, Fortune and Empire: The Epic History of the Fur Trade in America”

SUBJECT-BASED CONTESTS

Big Game Hunting
Sponsored by The Outdoor Channel

Magazine / E-Zine

• Honorable Mention: Chris Madson, Cheyenne, Wyo., “Discipline,” Wyoming Wildlife, October 2010
• 3^rd Place: Jack Ballard, Red Lodge, Mont., “Presents and Pronghorn: Antelope, Rifles and Other Gifts of the Heart,” Montana Headwall, Fall 2010
• 2^nd Place:  Chris Madson, Cheyenne, Wyo., “Heeding the Call,” Wyoming Wildlife, September 2010
• 1^st Place: Tim Christie, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, “A Long Shot,” Colorado Outdoors, September/October 2010

Newspaper

• Honorable Mention: Steve Pollick, Fremont, Ohio, “Preserve Rules Force Hunters to Pass on a Buck,” The Blade, Toldeo, Ohio, Nov. 30, 2010
• 3^rd Place: Brett Prettyman, Salt Lake City, Utah, “Disabled Man Dislikes Being Road Hunter,” The Salt Lake Tribune, Oct. 17, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Steve Pollick, Fremont, Ohio, “Hunting Tradition Misses Longtime Friend,” The Blade, Toledo, Ohio, Nov. 16, 2010
• 1^st Place: Pat Wray, Corvallis, Ore., “Outdoors: The Tough Part of Wilderness Hunting Success,” Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore., Oct. 13, 2010

Photography

• 3^rd Place: Michael Furtman, Duluth, Minn., “Big Buck in Snowfall,” North American Whitetail, December 2010
• 2^nd Place: Dennis Dunn, Kirkland, Wash., “Silent Entrance to Hidden Valley”
• 1^st Place: Joe Byers, Hagerstown, Md., “Coming Through the Horns”

Radio

• Honorable Mention: Ty Stockton, Cheyenne, Wyo., “Spring Bear,” Cowboy State News Network, March 31, 2010
• Honorable Mention: Jeff Kelm, Sheboygan, Wis., “Hunting Bluff-Country Bucks with Scott Bestul,” Outdoors Radio Network WHBL 1330 AM Sheboygan, Wis., Feb. 20, 2010
• 3^rd Place: Chris Slemp, Culloden, W.Va., “2010 Mast Preview,” West Virginia Outdoors, Oct. 2, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Dan Small, Belgium, Wis., “Hunting in China with Karl Malcolm” Outdoors Radio Network WHBL 1330 AM Sheboygan, Wis., July 24, 2010
• 1^st Place: Dan Small, Belgium, Wis., “New Zealand Big Game Hunting with Rodney Smith,” WHBL 1330 AM Sheboygan, Wis., Oct. 23, 2010

Television / Video

• 3^rd Place: Babe Winkelman, Brainerd, Minn., “Montana Rifle Bucks,” FSN, Sept. 4, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Babe Winkelman, Brainerd, Minn., “Maxfield’s Minnesota Monsters,” FSN, Sept. 18, 2010
• 1^st Place: Ron Schara, Minneapolis, Minn., “Kyle’s Safari,” KARE-11/NBC, May 23, 2010

Family Participation / Youth Outdoor Education
Sponsored by RealTree

Magazine / E-Zine

• 3^rd Place: Jill Adler, Park City, Utah, “The Joy of Spring,” Salt Lake Magazine, March 2010
• 2^nd Place: Shauna Stephenson, Wheatland, Wyo., “First Hunt,” Wyoming Wilderness, August 2010
• 1^st Place: Ann Hirsch, Smithshire, Ill., “Unplug and Reconnect: 10 Nature Activities for Kids in Camp,” Arizona Wildlife View September/October 2010

Newspaper

• Honorable Mention: Brett Prettyman, Salt Lake City, Utah, “Center of Attention,” The Salt Lake Tribune, Sept. 5, 2010
• Honorable Mention: Terry Brady, Zieglerville, Pa., “Beachside Fishing Tale Awash in Yuletide Trimmings,” Outdoor News, July 2, 2010
• 3^rd Place: Pat Wray, Corvallis, Ore., “Outdoors: A Memorable Hunt with My Granddaughter,” Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore., Nov. 24, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Pat Wray, Corvallis, Ore., “Everybody Loves Clamming…Right?” Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore., July 24, 2010
• 1^st Place: Kris Millgate, Idaho Falls, Idaho, “Little Green Thumbs,” Moose, Aug. 24, 2010

Photography

• 3^rd Place: Eugene Hester, Springfield, Va., “Father and Daughter Hunting,” Virginia Wildlife, November 2010
• 2^nd Place: Tim Christie, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, “Mom and Daughter Time,” Colorado Outdoors 2010 Hunting Annual
• 1^st Place: James Smedley, Wawa, Ontario, “Fishing Ontario,” 2010 Fishing Ontario, January 2010

Radio

• 3^rd Place: Chris Slemp, Culloden, W.Va., “Archery in Schools,” West Virginia Outdoors, Aug. 21, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Ty Stockton, Cheyenne, Wyo., “Creating a Monster,” Cowboy State News Network, Jan. 12, 2010
• 1^st Place: Ty Stockton, Cheyenne, Wyo., “Too Young for a Gun?” Cowboy State News Network, April 29, 2010

Television / Video

• 3^rd Place: Gary Schafer, Peoria, Ariz., “Navajo Youth Deer Hunt,” azgfd.gov, April 27, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Bill Sherck, Minneapolis, Minn., “First Day Afield!” Due North Outdoors/FOX SPORTS NORTH, Minneapolis, Minn., Nov. 18, 2010
• 1^st Place: Gary Schafer, Peoria, Ariz., “Archery in the Schools,” azgfd.gov, Oct. 18, 2010

Camping / Backpacking/Outdoor Recreational Travel / Biking / Climbing
Sponsored by Coleman Company

Magazine / E-Zine

• 3^rd Place: Chris Madson, Cheyenne, Wyo., “Taking the Heat,” Wyoming Wildlife, August 2010
• 2^nd Place: Ryck Lydecker, Alexandria, Va., “A Day on the Maine Island Trail,” BoatUS, May/June 2010
• 1^st Place: Lisa Densmore, Red Lodge, Mont., “The Demise of Kilimanjaro’s Glaciers,” Appalachia, Summer/Fall 2010

Newspaper

• 3^rd Place: Bob Frye, Greensburg, Pa., “Allegheny River’s Pristine Beauty Puts It in a Class by Itself,” Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Aug. 15, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Brett Prettyman, Salt Lake City, Utah, “Northern Exposure,” The Salt Lake Tribune, June 20, 2010
• 1^st place: Risa Wyatt, Seattle, Wash. “Palau Paradise,” Contra Costa Times, Nov. 21, 2010

Photography

• 3^rd Place: Kent Dannen, Allenspark, Colo., “Samoyed Sled Dogs Racing,” Samoyeds 2010 Calendar, Summer 2009
• 2^nd Place: Dennis Dunn, Kirkland, Wash., “The Pause that Refreshes,” 2010 Mountain Hunter Magazine
• 1^st Place: James Smedley, Wawa, Ontario, “Lake Skating,” Great Ontario Outdoor Adventure Calendar 2010, January 2010

Radio

• 3^rd Place: Dan Small, Belgium, Wis., “Adventures with the Wild Institute with Chris Heeter,” Outdoors Radio Network WHBL 1330 AM Sheboygan, Wis., Feb. 6, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Ty Stockton, Cheyenne, Wyo., “Protect Your Land,” Cowboy State News Network, Feb. 2, 2010
• 1^st Place: Ty Stockton, Cheyenne, Wyo., “Camping Red Flags,” Cowboy State News Network, March 9, 2010

Television / Video

• 3^rd Place: Kris Millgate, Idaho Falls, Idaho, “Icing on Top” KPVI News 6, Jan. 6, 2010
• 2^nd Place: Dave Carlson, Eau Claire, Wis., “Snow Bikers” Northland Adventures, Feb. 19, 2010
• 1^st Place: Grant McOmie, Forest Grove, Ore., “Let’s Go Camping” KGW-TV, Portland, Ore., July 16, 2010

OWAA is The Voice of the Outdoors®. The Outdoor Writers Association of America is the oldest and largest association of professional outdoor communicators in the United States. It was organized in 1927 by members of the Izaak Walton League of America and includes professional communicators dedicated to sharing the outdoor experience. OWAA’s professionals include writers, photographers, outdoors radio- and television-show hosts, book authors, videographers, lecturers and artists. The association is headquartered in Missoula, Mont. For more information, contact Robin Giner, executive director, Outdoor Writers Association of America, 615 Oak St., Ste. 201, Missoula, Mont. 59801; 406-728-7434, rginer@owaa-oldsite.birchbarkmedia.com; http://www.owaa-oldsite.birchbarkmedia.com.