Freeport artist's goldeneye painting wins 2009 state waterfowl competition

The common goldeneye, painted by Scot Storm of Freeport, will be featured on the 2009 Minnesota Migratory Waterfowl Stamp.

Storm’s entry was chosen as the winning design from among 28 entries in the stamp contest sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Ten entries advanced to the second stage of judging. Five finalists were selected for the final round of the contest, which was conducted Aug. 28 at DNR headquarters in St. Paul. The other finalists were Kevin Nelson of Burnsville, second place, and Ron VanGilder of Cedar, third place. Thomas Miller of Kilkenny and Timothy Turenne of Richfield tied for fourth place.

The five-member panel of judges this year included Steve Walters, DNR conservation officer; Mike Kallok, DNR Conservation Volunteer Magazine; Larry R. Nelson of Chatfield; Jeff Lawrence, DNR Wetland Wildlife Group Leader, Bemidji; and Lisa Laliberte Belak of Roseville.

All waterfowl hunters ages 18 to 64 must purchase the state waterfowl stamp, which costs $7.50. Stamp sales generate between $500,000 and $900,000 per year for habitat enhancement projects in state wildlife management areas and shallow lakes.

DNR offers no prizes for the stamp contest winner but the winning artist retains the right to reproduce the work. Each year the entries are limited to a predetermined species that breeds or migrates through Minnesota. The eligible species for the 2010 stamp design will be the wood duck.

Contest judging for the 2009 federal waterfowl stamp will take place on Oct. 18 at the Bloomington Art Center in Bloomington. This is the first time the judging for the federal contest has been conducted in Minnesota and marks the 75th anniversary of the federal stamp program.

“Art of the Wild,” an exhibit celebrating the first 75 years of the federal program, will be on display Oct. 7 to Jan. 4, 2009, at the University of Minnesota’s Bell Museum of Natural History. The exhibit features more than 100 original paintings, illustrations, watercolors and photographs from regional and national artists. It includes original paintings by the 15 Minnesota artists who have won the federal waterfowl stamp contest, more than any other state.