2021 Major Award Winners

Taxidermist of the Year
The Theodore Roosevelt Lion Award – $1,000.00
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas
196 Sable
The Theodore Roosevelt Lion Award – $1,000.00
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas
196 Sable

The Breakthrough Best of Show Award
Judges’ Choice Best of Show – $1,000.00
WES MOTE Tuttle, Oklahoma
356 Whitetail Deer
Judges’ Choice Best of Show – $1,000.00
WES MOTE Tuttle, Oklahoma
356 Whitetail Deer

NTA Competitor’s Award – Division of Excellence
First Place – $1,500.00
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana 262 Cuttbow Trout
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana 260 Westslope Cutthroat Trout
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana 261 Westslope Cutthroat Trout
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana 263 Brook Trout
First Place – $1,500.00
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana 262 Cuttbow Trout
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana 260 Westslope Cutthroat Trout
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana 261 Westslope Cutthroat Trout
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana 263 Brook Trout

NTA Competitor’s Award – Division of Excellence
Second Place – $1,000.00
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 284 Wild Turkey
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 285 California Quail
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 286 King Eider
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 287 Northern Shoveler / Wigeon hybrid
Second Place – $1,000.00
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 284 Wild Turkey
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 285 California Quail
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 286 King Eider
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota 287 Northern Shoveler / Wigeon hybrid

NTA Competitor’s Award – Open Division
First Place – $1,000.00
LANCE VAN DUSEN Lawson, Missouri 219 Axis Deer
LANCE VAN DUSEN Lawson, Missouri 220 Silver Fox
LANCE VAN DUSEN Lawson, Missouri 221 Gemsbok
LANCE VAN DUSEN Lawson, Missouri 222 Whitetail Deer
First Place – $1,000.00
LANCE VAN DUSEN Lawson, Missouri 219 Axis Deer
LANCE VAN DUSEN Lawson, Missouri 220 Silver Fox
LANCE VAN DUSEN Lawson, Missouri 221 Gemsbok
LANCE VAN DUSEN Lawson, Missouri 222 Whitetail Deer

NTA Competitor’s Award – Open Division
Second Place – $500.00
NICK GENEREUX Crookston, Minnesota 249 Black Bear
NICK GENEREUX Crookston, Minnesota 250 Black Bear
NICK GENEREUX Crookston, Minnesota 251 Black Bear
NICK GENEREUX Crookston, Minnesota 252 Black Bear
Second Place – $500.00
NICK GENEREUX Crookston, Minnesota 249 Black Bear
NICK GENEREUX Crookston, Minnesota 250 Black Bear
NICK GENEREUX Crookston, Minnesota 251 Black Bear
NICK GENEREUX Crookston, Minnesota 252 Black Bear

NTA Competitor’s Award – Open Division
Third Place – $250.00
ERIN KRINGS Hawkings, Minnesota 157 Bobcat
ERIN KRINGS Hawkings, Minnesota 158 Pine Marten
ERIN KRINGS Hawkings, Minnesota 159 Whitetail Deer
ERIN KRINGS Hawkings, Minnesota 160 Fisher
Third Place – $250.00
ERIN KRINGS Hawkings, Minnesota 157 Bobcat
ERIN KRINGS Hawkings, Minnesota 158 Pine Marten
ERIN KRINGS Hawkings, Minnesota 159 Whitetail Deer
ERIN KRINGS Hawkings, Minnesota 160 Fisher

Best All-Around Taxidermist
Highest Combined Score in Four Categories in Open Division – $100.00
KENT ALLARD Sydney, Nebraska 208 Black Bear
KENT ALLARD Sydney, Nebraska 209 Mule Deer
KENT ALLARD Sydney, Nebraska 210 Prairie Rattlesnake
KENT ALLARD Sydney, Nebraska 211 Red Crested Pochard/Speckled Teal Hen
Highest Combined Score in Four Categories in Open Division – $100.00
KENT ALLARD Sydney, Nebraska 208 Black Bear
KENT ALLARD Sydney, Nebraska 209 Mule Deer
KENT ALLARD Sydney, Nebraska 210 Prairie Rattlesnake
KENT ALLARD Sydney, Nebraska 211 Red Crested Pochard/Speckled Teal Hen

Distinguished Taxidermist Award
Entry has previously won a Judges’ Best of Show at another qualifying competition – $150.00
JENA EVERAGE Versailles, Indiana
191 Whitetail Deer
Entry has previously won a Judges’ Best of Show at another qualifying competition – $150.00
JENA EVERAGE Versailles, Indiana
191 Whitetail Deer

Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy
First Place – $250.00
CRAIG WESTBROEK Plain City, Utah
131 Common Goldeneye
First Place – $250.00
CRAIG WESTBROEK Plain City, Utah
131 Common Goldeneye

Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy
Second Place – $150.00
LANCE VAN DUSEN Lawson, Missouri
220 Silver Fox
Second Place – $150.00
LANCE VAN DUSEN Lawson, Missouri
220 Silver Fox

Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy
Third Place – $100.00
BILL NEUMAN Bismarck, North Dakota
347 Steinbok
Third Place – $100.00
BILL NEUMAN Bismarck, North Dakota
347 Steinbok

NTA Best of Show Collective Artists
Judges’ Choice for Best Collective Artists Entry – $300.00
JAMES BENSON and JARED GLIMSDAHL East Grand Forks, Montana
177 Bighorn Sheep
Judges’ Choice for Best Collective Artists Entry – $300.00
JAMES BENSON and JARED GLIMSDAHL East Grand Forks, Montana
177 Bighorn Sheep

Master’s Choice Award
Selected by convention attendees
MIKE NAKIELSKI Iron Ridge, Wisconsin
248 Shoveler
Selected by convention attendees
MIKE NAKIELSKI Iron Ridge, Wisconsin
248 Shoveler

Henry Wichers Inchumuk Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Lifesize Mammal, Size of Squirrel or Smaller – $100.00
ROSS RICHARD Herriman, Utah
274 Raccoon
Judges’ Choice for Best Lifesize Mammal, Size of Squirrel or Smaller – $100.00
ROSS RICHARD Herriman, Utah
274 Raccoon

Joseph Bruchac Memorial Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Whitetail Deer – $100.00
WES MOTE Tuttle, Oklahoma
256 Whitetail Deer
Judges’ Choice for Best Whitetail Deer – $100.00
WES MOTE Tuttle, Oklahoma
256 Whitetail Deer

Chris Barnhardt Memorial Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Gamehead – $100.00
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas
196 Sable
Judges’ Choice for Best Gamehead – $100.00
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas
196 Sable
2021 North American Champions

North American Champion Turkey
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota
284 Wild Turkey
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota
284 Wild Turkey

North American Champion Whitetail Deer Open-Mouth
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
WES MOTE Tuttle, Oklahoma 256
Whitetail Deer
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
WES MOTE Tuttle, Oklahoma 256
Whitetail Deer

North American Champion Whitetail Deer Closed-Mouth
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
JENA EVERAGE Versailles, Indiana
191 Whitetail Deer
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
JENA EVERAGE Versailles, Indiana
191 Whitetail Deer

North American Champion Large Gamehead
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas
196 Sable
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
JERRY HUFFAKER Abilene, Texas
196 Sable

North American Champion Large Mammal
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
JOHNNY RISINGER Mt. Enterprise, Texas
339 Whitetail Deer
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
JOHNNY RISINGER Mt. Enterprise, Texas
339 Whitetail Deer

North American Champion Small Mammal
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
BILL NEUMAN Bismarck, North Dakota
347 Steinbok
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
BILL NEUMAN Bismarck, North Dakota
347 Steinbok

North American Champion Coldwater Fish Skin Mount
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana
262 Cutbow Trout
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana
262 Cutbow Trout

North American Champion Bird
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota
129 California Quail
First Place in the Division of Excellence – $200.00
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota
129 California Quail
2021 National Champions

National Champion Whitetail Deer Open-Mouth
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
TIM SCHROEDER Huxley, Iowa
309 Whitetail Deer
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
TIM SCHROEDER Huxley, Iowa
309 Whitetail Deer

National Champion Whitetail Deer Closed-Mouth
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
TOM HANSEN Windom, Montana
300 Whitetail Deer
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
TOM HANSEN Windom, Montana
300 Whitetail Deer

National Champion Small Gamehead
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
ABEL EVERAGE Versailles, Indiana
337 Coyote
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
ABEL EVERAGE Versailles, Indiana
337 Coyote

National Champion Large Gamehead
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
PAUL KLAR Broadus, Montana
254 Pronghorn Antelope
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
PAUL KLAR Broadus, Montana
254 Pronghorn Antelope

National Champion Large Mammal
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
NICK GENEREUX Crookston, Minnesota
251 Black Bear
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
NICK GENEREUX Crookston, Minnesota
251 Black Bear

National Champion Small Mammal
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
ERIN KRINGS Hawkins, Wisconsin
160 Fisher
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
ERIN KRINGS Hawkins, Wisconsin
160 Fisher

National Champion Reptile Skin Mount
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
ROYCE DAKE Ulm, Utah
279 Prairie Rattlesnake
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
ROYCE DAKE Ulm, Utah
279 Prairie Rattlesnake

National Champion Warmwater Fish Reproduction
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
SCOTT LULA Wisdom, Montana
288 Shevelnose Sturgeon
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
SCOTT LULA Wisdom, Montana
288 Shevelnose Sturgeon

National Champion Waterfowl
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
TIM COOLEY Akeney, Iowa
302 Pintail
Highest Score in the Open Division – $100.00
TIM COOLEY Akeney, Iowa
302 Pintail
2021 Other Awards

NTA Impact Award
NTA Impact Award
Sponsored by Champions Choice – $200.00
ERIN KRINGS Hawkins, Wisconsin
160 Fisher
Sponsored by Champions Choice – $200.00
ERIN KRINGS Hawkins, Wisconsin
160 Fisher

NTA Virtuoso Award
NTA Virtuoso Award
Sponsored by Pro-1 for excellence in “Molding & Casting” – $200.00
WES MOTE Tuttle, Oklahoma
256 Whitetail Deer
Sponsored by Pro-1 for excellence in “Molding & Casting” – $200.00
WES MOTE Tuttle, Oklahoma
256 Whitetail Deer

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Whitetail Award
Taxidermists’ Choice Best Whitetail Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply – $100.00
WES MOTE Tuttle, Oklahoma
256 Whitetail Deer
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply – $100.00
WES MOTE Tuttle, Oklahoma
256 Whitetail Deer

NTA Best of Show Novice
NTA Best of Show Novice
Judges’ Choice for Best Novice Entry – $100.00
MICHAEL RYSAVY Brookings, South Dakota
244 Black Crappie
Judges’ Choice for Best Novice Entry – $100.00
MICHAEL RYSAVY Brookings, South Dakota
244 Black Crappie

People’s Choice Award
People’s Choice Award
The Charley Haynes Memorial Award – $100.00
JAMIE BRINCKS Council Bluff, Iowa
334 Horse
The Charley Haynes Memorial Award – $100.00
JAMIE BRINCKS Council Bluff, Iowa
334 Horse

Delia Akeley Award
Delia Akeley Award
Best entry by a female competitor selected by convention attendees – $100.00
JAMIE BRINCKS Council Bluff, Iowa
334 Horse
Best entry by a female competitor selected by convention attendees – $100.00
JAMIE BRINCKS Council Bluff, Iowa
334 Horse

Taxidermists' Choice Best Lifesize Mammal Award
Taxidermists’ Choice Best Lifesize Mammal Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply – $100.00
JAMES BENTON East Grand Forks, Minnesota
178 Moose Calf
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply – $100.00
JAMES BENTON East Grand Forks, Minnesota
178 Moose Calf

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Fish Award
Taxidermists’ Choice Best Fish Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply – $100.00
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana
262 Cutbow Trout
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply – $100.00
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana
262 Cutbow Trout

The Polytranspar Award
The Polytranspar Award
Highest Scoring Fish Painted with Polytranspar – $100.00
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana
262 Cutbow Trout
Highest Scoring Fish Painted with Polytranspar – $100.00
RICHARD WHITE Billings, Montana
262 Cutbow Trout

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Reptile Award
Taxidermists’ Choice Best Reptile Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply – $100.00
ROYCE DAKE Ulm, Utah
280 Ball Python
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply – $100.00
ROYCE DAKE Ulm, Utah
280 Ball Python

Taxidermists’ Choice Best Bird Award
Taxidermists’ Choice Best Bird Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply – $100.00
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota
284 Wild Turkey
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply – $100.00
SAM CAHOY Aberdeen, South Dakota
284 Wild Turkey

NTA Best of Show Taxidermy Sculpture
NTA Best of Show Taxidermy Sculpture
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association – $100.00
BILL NEUMAN Bismarck, North Dakota
349 Marco Polo Sheep
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association – $100.00
BILL NEUMAN Bismarck, North Dakota
349 Marco Polo Sheep

People’s Choice Taxidermy Sculpture
People’s Choice Taxidermy Sculpture
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association – $100.00
BILL NEUMAN Bismarck, North Dakota
349 Marco Polo Sheep
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association – $100.00
BILL NEUMAN Bismarck, North Dakota
349 Marco Polo Sheep

NTA Best of Show Original Art
NTA Best of Show Original Art
Selected by the judges collectively from all first-place winners in the five Original Art categories – $100.00
TIM HECHT Jackson, Minnesota
318 Elephant
Selected by the judges collectively from all first-place winners in the five Original Art categories – $100.00
TIM HECHT Jackson, Minnesota
318 Elephant

People’s Choice Original Art
People’s Choice Original Art
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association – $100.00
CHARITY NEWMAN Shadehill, South Dakota
126 Pencil Drawing
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association – $100.00
CHARITY NEWMAN Shadehill, South Dakota
126 Pencil Drawing

Van Dyke’s Award
Van Dyke’s AwardVan Dyke’s Award
Most Creativity Mammal, Gamehead or Whitetail Entry – $100.00Van Dyke’s Award
GARY WEIR Montrose, Colorado Van Dyke’s Award165 Whitetail Deer

NTA International African-Exotic Award
NTA International African/Exotic Award
Judges’ Choice for Best African/Exotic Mount – $100.00
DEAN SCHULTE Coalville, Utah
145 African Lion
Judges’ Choice for Best African/Exotic Mount – $100.00
DEAN SCHULTE Coalville, Utah
145 African Lion