News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2009

North Dakota Artist Wins Ohio Wetlands Stamp Competition
with Depiction of Ruddy Ducks 

COLUMBUS, OH - The artwork of a pair of ruddy ducks by North Dakota resident Jeffery Hoff 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. Hoff's painting will appear on the Ohio wetlands stamp issued in the fall of 2010.

The winning entry was selected from a field of 24 original paintings submitted by artists from 12 states, including 10 entries from Ohio. The competition was held on February 21 at the Ohio Ducks Unlimited annual banquet in Columbus.

"The ruddy duck is my favorite waterfowl and I have entered the Ohio competition in hope that it would be the first time this species was depicted on an Ohio stamp," said Hoff, who has entered the state competition three previous times, but has never won. Hoff added that he has won state stamp competitions in Nevada and Oklahoma.

Dan Speidel of Elyria took second place honors in this year's state competition for his rendering of two buffleheads in flight; third place went to Brian Blight of Pennsylvania for his portrait of two canvasbacks. Four Ohio artists placed in the top ten in this year's competition.

Last year's Ohio wetlands stamp winner, Hudson resident Joel Rogers, will see his painting of common goldeneye appear on the 2009 wetlands habitat stamp.

Approximately 25,000 Ohio wetland stamps were purchased last year, according to the ODNR Division of Wildlife. Proceeds from stamp sales help fund vital wetland habitat restoration projects in Ohio. 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 Al Faber, chief of the joint staff for the Ohio National Guard and an avid duck hunter; Jim McCarty, reporter and avian columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer; Julie Zickefoose, writer and naturalist from southeastern Ohio; Celeste Baumgartner, president of the Outdoor Writers of Ohio; and Kenn Kaufman, noted speaker and author of the Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America now living in northwestern Ohio. Steve Dey from Ohio Ducks Unlimited served as the alternate judge.

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EDITORS NOTE: Images from this year's competition are available at wildohio.com.