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MY OBSERVATIONS OF THE 24TH ANNUAL SHOW

By Carole Kmetz

The long awaited weekend has finally arrived, dawning cold with the promise of snow or rain. When we arrived in the parking lot later in the morning the weather sure had not squelched the enthusiasm of the attendees of the Ted Harmon Vintage Decoy Auction. The parking lot was about half-full with the promise of more to come. Looking into the ballroom to see what was going on I was very surprised to see so many people. The auction had about 150 lots of vintage birds to go on the block. The whole auction moved very quickly and was over in about 2 1/2 hours with many very happy people.

About the same time the auction was going on Tom Christie was up in the third floor audio-visual room giving one of his hands-on seminars. The room was packed with 20 carvers and a few observers. Judging from the comments I heard later, everyone had a great time and learned many new techniques. Many of those same people were heard to ask Duane Ganser if they could sign up for the seminar next year. So to this non-carver’s untrained eye & ear I guess this was a good experience for all that were able to attend.

The day continued on with the set-up of the decorative and hunting decoy rooms. Three new tanks were placed and replaced then filled. The tanks in the Hunting room were taken care of by Mark Costilow and Gary Bryan and their crew then tested to make sure the audience would be able to observe what was going on in the tanks. Down in the Decorative room the tanks were set by Duane Ganser and Curt Johns and their crews, they went on to make sure the tables were set and covered, the signs were placed, and everyone and everything was ready for registration to begin.

While back in the ballroom the auction had disappeared and Wayne Baldwin was making sure the set-up was being handled correctly, the venders have started to move in with their boxes and a variety of items to entice the carvers as well as the observers into purchasing their wares. We had boats along side fine art and decoy blanks next to beautiful ceramic pieces. In other areas of the ballroom we had carving accessories and patterns and just about anything a carver could or would dream about.

Jim Moore set up first of two decoy painting contests in the front lobby of the hotel with Bob Bolle in his glory teaching several young carvers his painting secrets. I observed Adam Kastl paint a Richardson’s goose that looked quite real. His dad told me later that one night he came home from work to find Adam in the garage painting and when he asked him where here had learned that technique Adam proudly stated Mr. Bolle showed me at the show. Several other young people were also enjoying the learning session with Bob. Thanks Bob for sharing your techniques with these youngsters, they are the future of the decoy world.

Registration is about to begin on both 2nd and 3rd floors for the Decorative Floating and Non-floating and for the Hunting Decoys. In my observations of both registrations there would be some pretty stiff competition going on in the morning.

There was a welcoming cocktail party in the lounge that was enjoyed by everyone who had checked into the hotel. It was nice to see some old friends and to be able to make new ones while mingling at the party.

Friday was just about ready to wind down with everyone looking forward to the competitions that would begin in the morning. There were still a few people wandering in and out of the vintage room looking for that special vintage decoy and hoping to make a deal. There were a few people sitting around the pool in conversation about the upcoming competitions and of course they were telling stories about the duck that got away on their last hunting trip. About this time the committee members were preparing for bed with thoughts of opening the show in the morning.

Saturday dawned cold and bright with spirits high in anticipation. Charlie Hall was ready in the front hallway to start collecting admissions to the show from the earlybirds who had shown up around 8:30. Pat Costilow had her membership and T-shirt tables ready to go.

Jim Wilson and company were ready to go with tickets on the raffle items just waiting for the crowd to arrive. President Tom Whitlock opened the show at 9:00am. Tom enthusiastically welcomed everyone to the 24th annual show by thanking the venders for being here and being a part of the best show in the country. Tom went on to thank the Ohio Department of Wildlife for again being on hand with their display. He acknowledged many of the venders by name and welcomed all the venders who were new on the scene. Tom went on the make a few presentations including the Golden Goose award. (This award is given to someone connected with the club for outstanding service). This year the organization presented two awards, the first went to Pat Costilow, membership chairperson and the second went to the IWCA and Hunting shorebird chairperson Gary Bryan. We thank them both for their support of the show and the great work done by both. Tom continued on with a presentation to Jim & Johanna Moore of a Lifetime membership to the club, this is done in recognition of all the work he has done with the show. Tom then said "let the show begin" and it certainly did. I took a peek into the Director’ s room where Willy McDonald had set up shop. Willy was enjoying a full house of carvers and people who just wanted to observe Willy’s demos and his great personality. In and around the ballroom and throughout the hotel the rest of the day I observed people enjoying the decoys and the show in general.

The flat art contest was about to begin and all eyes were on the judge, there were many great pieces all depicting puddle ducks. The judges chose a pair of Wood Ducks to be the winner. The painting that won this year was done by Jeffrey Klinnefelter.

Meanwhile back at the competitions, they are both underway with the winners yet to be determined. Both venues had large crowds of people observing the judging. I checked back a couple of hours later and the winner in the decorative was just being announced. It was Canada’s own Lionel Dwyer with his outstanding Scoter. Lionel was not able to be with us this year, but his lovely wife Roxanne was there to claim his prize and to bask in the praise of her talented husband. Congratulations Lionel. Moving on to the non-floating decorative’s we again had a wonderful showing (seems like this one grows a little every year). This year’s winner was Richard Reeves of Chalmette LA, with a pair of Wood Ducks. Richard also won the People’s Choice Award (this is sponsored by Wildfowl Carving Magazine). In the miniature division the Best of Show winner was Duke Leeper of Acme PA with a beautiful Turkey. In the second annual backyard bird on a birdhouse competition (sponsored by Betty Odine) Texas’s own R. D. Wilson won with a church that two chickadees had moved into. In my humble and untrained observation all the judges did a great job, there were so many great pieces in all the decorative competitions.

I went on upstairs to the hunting decoy room. This room was so crowded I had to maneuver myself in to see what was going on. I made up just in time to see Port Clinton Ohio’s own Rick Johannsen be awarded Best of Show with his Mallard and second Best of Show with his Pintail and third Best of Show with his Canvasback. Congratulations Rick on another fine showing. Across the room the judges were also just awarding the Best of Show in the Amateur division, Fred Zink, Sr. of Clayton Ohio who took Best of Show with his Cormorant.

We also have a contest for a Junior group (under 16). The winner here was Katelyn Bombardier of Richmond VT with her Goldeneye. Keep up the good work Katelyn, we hope to see you again in competition next year. Off to the side of the room were some of the most magnificent shorebirds I have ever seen (I almost felt they would be taking flight at any moment). The judging of these birds had been done earlier so I missed the awarding of the Best of Show here but the winner was Peter Palumbo of Commack NY with his Dowitcher. Just from my observations I think the judges had a really hard time coming to those decisions, there were so many great carvings up there, I’m sure glad it wasn’t me in the hot seat.

While everything is going on in the adult world with the show the club hasn’t forgotten about the children who attend the show. Audrey Kastl was up in the third floor audio-visual room making it ready for the coloring contest with a demonstration and explanation of birds of prey from the Lorain County Wildlife center. There were prizes for the kids along with a decoy of their very own. Judging from the smiles I saw on their faces a good time was had by all. The pictures were later hung in the hallway for everyone to admire.

I came back downstairs to see what was going on with the Vintage contest and to my surprise this year it was being run by some new faces. (John had decided to enjoy the show more and not work so hard) the new faces in the crowd were Ken Cole, Joan Hoeft & Alan Muhic. They did such an outstanding job you would never know they were new on the job. The winner here was John Clayton with a non-factory shorebird. The best in room display was won by Alan and Elaine Haid. It is now about 3:30 and the Cocktail Bird-Swizzle Stick-Silent Auction is being set up in the lounge. There are about 11 entries in the swizzle stick contest (how do they get that decoy so small). In the cocktail bird contest there are about 18 entries, one better than the next. On the silent auction tables there seemed to be about 25 different piece up for auction ranging from a small piece by Carolyn Wodrich to a full size Tom Christie decoy. At 4:00pm the doors open and the people were able to enjoy a cocktail and to vote on their favorite cocktail bird and swizzle stick. Bidding in the silent auction seen to be going well, I can see people writing and watching and then going over to bid again. While all this is going on Cliff Kastl is conducting a card

raffle for a shotgun. The cards go fast and I get to draw the winner. Sure is an inexpensive way to get a shotgun and to help out the club. The ballots of the Cocktail bird and Swizzle sticks have been tallied and the winners are just about to be announced by Bob Lund and R. D. Wilson. Bob Lund offered a silent prayer for Rick Adams a long time club member who recently passed away. Rick was the past Hunting Decoy Chairperson and will be missed. The winner of the Cocktail bird is Rick Johannsen of Port Clinton Ohio with a Bluebill and the winner of the Swizzle Stick contest is R. D. Wilson of Mineola Texas and our very own auctioneer. The auction is about to begin, Ralph Ormen and several others are walking the birds around so people can get a better look at them before the bidding begins.

The bidding on these fine pieces lasts about 45 minutes with yours truly picking up Goose Feather painted by Del Herbert. I think everyone enjoyed themselves and the club did well in the auction. We moved up to the third floor for the big auction. Ky Kraus did the explanation of the pieces to be auctioned and Bob Kasper did the actual auctioning of the pieces. There were about 100 pieces in this auction and the bidding was quite lively on some pieces. Bonnie Kasper helped out with the cashing out and everything ran smoothly as it always does with the expert help of the runners. The auction was completed by 8:30-9:00.

The vintage rooms and the pool area were still alive with people chatting and buying those one-of-a-kind vintage decoys. I myself was tired and was about to fall asleep but there is always more to see and do at this show.

Sunday March 18 again dawned cold and bright, everything was in readiness for the people to arrive. Cliff & Audrey Kastl were preparing poolside for their three contests. Shooting Stool, Wildfowlers and the Free Standing Field Contests.

There were about 10 entries in the Free Standing contest and the Best of Show went to Tim Bombardier with his V-Board of three Goldeneyes. This is an interesting contest since almost any type of bird that is hunted or used as a decoy can be in this contest. This year there was a representation of Crows, Doves, Night Herons and Sea Gulls.

The pool comes alive with decoys of all types and sizes in the Wildfowler’s contest. Being the casual observer that I am this is a fascinating contest to watch. There is 16 different string of bird in the pool at one time and the judging seems to be very difficult. The winner of the shotgun after much discussion was Jon Groninger of Northumberland PA.

After this contest is concluded the individual birds go in the pools and they are judged. It seems so strange to see ducks that are so real looking in a hotel pool. The judging here is also very difficult. The winner of the first prize gun was George Williams with a Green Wing Teal. During both of these contests the outside area around the pool and the balcony’s are full of spectators and contestants waiting to hear the announcement of the winner.

My hearty congratulations to winners in all contests. I know I may have missed naming a few but there is so much going on at the show that one person can not possibly make it to all contests. Also I would like to thank everyone connected with the show, I may not have named you specifically but I know without you, we would have no show. Please accept my thanks for everything you have done and will do in the future. Sometimes I know we all feel that this is a thankless job, but I really feel that the carvers of the world who come to our show appreciate all you have done for the carving community.

Now down to the front hall where they are about to draw the names of the winners of the raffle prizes. Unfortunately I did not catch the names of any of the winners, I just know that none of them was my husband or I. I do believe that Jim Wilson will write about the winners in his article.