Waterfowl, pheasant stamp design contest winners announced
Weekly News Article Published: October 6, 2009 by the Central Office
MADISON - A painting of a wood duck pair by Craig Fairbert of Ladysmith is the winning entry of the 2010 Wisconsin Waterfowl Stamp contest.
A painting of a flying rooster by William Millonig of Campbellsport is the winning entry in the 2010 Wisconsin Pheasant Stamp design contest.
Judging for the contests took place in Aug. 28 at the Department of Natural Resources South Central Region Headquarters in Fitchburg. There were 23 waterfowl entries and 10 pheasant entries from around the state. The judging panel included Tim Grunewald of Wisconsin Ducks Unlimited, Kevin Wallenfang of Wisconsin Pheasants Forever, and Lloyd Eagan, DNR South Central Regional Director.
2010 waterfowl stamp contest
2010 Wisconsin Waterfowl Stamp winning entry
Craig Fairbert resides in Ladysmith, where he enjoys hunting and fishing. Professionally, Fairbert is employed as an artist for a screen printing company and had previously painted murals for several years. He has been selected as Wisconsin’s wining artist for the 2005 Great Lakes Trout stamp, 2007 Inland Trout stamp, 2008 Great Lakes Trout stamp, 2008 Pheasant Stamp, 2009 Turkey Stamp and the 2010 Inland Trout stamp. The only contest that had eluded him until now had been the waterfowl stamp. This was his fourth attempt at the contest and it was a personal goal to win all five. This April, Fairbert also won the Colorado Waterfowl Stamp contest, with a depiction of a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneyes.
The second place winner for this year’s Waterfowl Stamp Contest was Robert Metropulos of Minocqua with a painting of a pair of pintails. Third place was awarded to Greg McGowan of Trempealeau.
Proceeds from the sale of the $7 Waterfowl Stamps are used for developing, managing, preserving, restoring and maintaining wetland habitat in Wisconsin and Canada for waterfowl and other wetland associated wildlife species. Wisconsin duck and goose hunters are required to purchase “stamp approval” through the Automated Issuance License System (ALIS) in order to have a valid license, but will not receive an actual stamp unless they request it. DNR service centers will have the stamps available for free to everyone with stamp approval. Anyone else interested in collecting the stamp may purchase one directly from the DNR.
2010 pheasant stamp contest
2010 Wisconsin Pheasant Stamp winning entry
William Millonig enjoys living and painting in Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine country. Since a young boy he has painted, receiving guidance from his mother, also an artist. His father was an outdoorsman and helped to instill in him an appreciation for the outdoors. Now a retired full-time artist, Millonig earned degrees in both mathematics and biology from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and taught mathematics and statistics for 33 years. Millonig has entered several of the stamp contests over the years and his artwork has been featured in many magazines and art exhibitions. In addition to winning the 2010 Pheasant Stamp contest, Millonig’s artwork has also appeared on the 1995, 2002 and 2009 Wisconsin Inland Trout Stamps, the 1986 and 1997 Wisconsin Wild Turkey Stamps and the 1988 Wisconsin Great Lakes Salmon and Trout Stamp.
The second place winner for this year’s Pheasant Stamp Contest was John H. Nemec, Jr., of Peshtigo. Third place was awarded to Robert Leum of Holmen.
Sales of the $10 pheasant stamp annually bring in more than $370,000 for developing, managing, conserving, and maintaining the wild pheasant population in the state and contributing to the stocking of put-and-take pheasants on Wisconsin’s public hunting grounds. A pheasant stamp is required to hunt pheasants in the state of Wisconsin.
Previous waterfowl stamp winning entries and pheasant stamp winning entries can be viewed on the DNR Web site.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: on the Waterfowl Stamp Design Contest contact Michele Kille at (608) 266-7408; on the Pheasant Stamp Design Contest contact: Sharon Fandel at (608) 261-8458; or Bob Manwell - (608) 264-9248
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