Overview

The Federal Duck Stamp Contest began on September 11, 2005 with a public preview held at the Memphis College of Art. The 233 Contest entries were displayed in an exhibit format around the gallery. Duck Stamp Program staff were on hand to answer questions and pass out information.

On Wednesday, September 14 the Federal Duck Stamp Contest judging began. Jeff Fleming, Chief of External Affairs for the Southeast Region welcomed the audience and introduced the five contest judges: Ward Burton, Bill Crawford, Steve Runnels, Ruby Bridgeforth and Jane Lavino. Larry Mellinger of the Department of the Interior's Solicitor's Office explained the procedures and rules of the contest.

The judges reviewed the paintings and eliminated entries in three tiered rounds of judging. In between rounds they consulted the Contest experts in on stamp design and anatomical make of the 5 eligible waterfowl species: Brant, Canada Goose, Northern Shoveller, Ross’ Goose and Ruddy Duck. After the second round the judges were left to choose the winner from 8 paintings.

At 12:00 p.m. the Assistant Director of Migratory Birds, Paul Schmidt presented the audience with the judges’ decision and called first place artist Sherrie Russell Meline of Mt. Shasta, California. “Ms. Meline, do you know why I'm calling you, today?'” This led to a conversation over the phone which the whole audience could hear. The sound of her thrill and shock were apparent as the audience listened. "I am very honored and flattered," said Russell Meline. "I am completely honored to have been in the competition with the best artists out there, and I’m totally shocked that I won."

Second place went to Bruce Miller of Mound, Minnesota, who painted a pair of northern shovelers. Third place went to Jim Caturia of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, who also painted a male northern shoveler.

"Sherrie Russell Meline's beautiful rendition of Ross' geese continues the Duck Stamp's tradition of outstanding wildlife art," said Matt Hogan, acting Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "More important, it will help us convey the importance of preserving our Nation's wetland habitat and the wildlife and communities it supports."

2005 Federal Contest Judges

Ward Burton’s passion for racing is equal to his passion for the outdoors.
Winner of the 2002 Daytona 500, Burton long ago dedicated himself to
natural resource conservation. Initially funded out of his NASCAR earnings,
today the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation is a fast growing education-
oriented organization dedicated to promoting awareness for the need
of wildlife conservation, habitat enhancement, and proper stewardship of
America’s natural resources.


Bill Crawford is an innovative and committed wildife Conservationist. He
was named the 2005 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year. Crawford
spearheaded one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The project has received
national attention for its importance to migratory waterfowl, shorebirds
and wading birds. Crawford is an avid international hunter, angler, and
active member of Safari Club International (SCI).


Steve Runnels is the President and CEO of the American Birding
Association in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He began his career as a
curator for the Dallas Museum of Natural History, eventually becoming
the CEO of the museum. He has also served as the Regional Director of
Stewardship for the National Audubon Society. Runnels has been an
active member of local groups in his community including the Rotary,
Chambers of Commerce, Audubon and Junior League. He holds a Bachelor
of Science degree in zoology and botany.

Ruby J. Bridgeforth is the Postmaster/Metro Manager in Memphis,
Tennessee. She began her postal career in 1981 in Anchorage, Alaska. Her
educational accomplishments include Bachelor of Science from University
of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (1976), Master, Music Education from Arkansas
State University (1977) and Master, Business Administration from
Belhaven College (2004). Bridgeforth is married and has three sons. She
strives to maintain a balance between her faith, family and career.

Jane Lavino is the Curator of Education for the National Wildlife Art
Museum for the past 16 years, where she has built an award winning
education program reaching over 12,000 adults and children a year. Lavino
was the 1996 recipient of the Wyoming Alliance for Arts Education “Friend
of the Arts” award. She has served as the Wyoming State Coordinator for
the Federal Junior Duck Stamp program for 11 years. Jane Lavino has a
Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art and Cultural Anthropology and is a certified
art educator in New York and Wyoming.

Alternate Judge
John Maclean, author and journalist, was a reporter, writer and editor for
The Chicago Tribune for 30 years. He resigned from The Tribune in 1995 to
write Fire on the Mountain, a critically acclaimed account of the 1994 fire
on Storm King Mountain in Colorado that took 14 lives. He is currently “Red
Card” qualified as a fire information officer and basic firefighter. His awards
include a special safety award from the California Fire and Aviation division
of the Bureau of Land Management. Maclean, an avid fly fisherman, divides
his time between Washington, D.C., and the West.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
www.fws.gov/duckstamps

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

For more information on the Federal Duck Stamp Program, visit www.fws.gov/duckstamps .

Ducks Unlimited
www.ducks.org

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature's most productive ecosystem - an continues to lose more than 100,000 wetland acres each year.


Look for Ducks Unlimited on the World Wide Web at www.ducks.org . Tune into The World of Ducks Unlimited Radio Network, and starting again in July, watch Ducks Unlimited Television on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN).

Greater Memphis Arts Council
www.memphisartscouncil.org

Raising funds to ensure excellence in the arts and build a vibrant cultural community for everyone, the Greater Memphis Arts Council is the 8th largest United Arts Fund in the nation. In addition to raising almost $3 million annually in support of the arts, the Arts Council administers Arts Build Communities grants and Student Ticket Subsidy awards through annual funding from the Tennessee Arts Commission. The Arts Council also funds arts education through the Arts for Children & Teachers (ACT) program, which brings the arts to thousands of area schoolchildren every year.

Greater Memphis Arts Council, 8 S. Third St., Ste. 300 , Memphis , TN 38103
(901) 578-ARTS, fax (901) 578-2784, www.memphisartscouncil.org

Memphis College of Art
www.mca.edu

Small by choice and purpose, Memphis College of Art is the only not-for-profit, independent art college between Atlanta and Kansas City . It is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to grant the BFA in Design Arts and Fine Arts and the MFA in Computer Arts and Studio Arts. It extends its programs to the public through gallery exhibitions, continuing education and children's classes and visiting artist lectures. For more information about the college, visit www.mca.edu.