MEMPHIS, Tenn. Oct. 6, 2020 Ducks Unlimiteds (DU) Art and Merchandise Marketing Manager Jane Lawson was selected as one of the five jurists for the Federal Duck Stamp contest at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Headquarters in Falls Church, Va.

Lawson is a 19-year DU employee who is the staff liaison for the art sub-committee that picks the waterfowl prints offered for raffle and auction through DU events every year. This experience provides keen insight into quality waterfowl art and gave her unique judging qualifications for this years competition. She received her nomination in March and judging confirmation in July.

It was an honor to represent Ducks Unlimited and to be nominated and chosen to judge a Federal Duck Stamp contest, Lawson said. It was hard to choose a winner from the outstanding final seven paintings. All of the artists submitted excellent work, making selecting the best of those very challenging.

During the competition, judges review all the submitted entries for both anatomical structure and body detail. Every judge has a stamp expert and a waterfowl biologist on hand for consultation if needed. This year entries were eliminated until only seven were left, and then each judge voted on the remaining stamp artwork to determine the winner.

Richard Clifton of Delaware won the 2021-2022 Federal Duck Stamp competition. His painted portrayal of a single swimming lesser scaup drake topped the 138-entry field and was crowned the winner. This is Cliftons second stamp win; his art previously captured the 2007-2008 stamp crown.

Waterfowl hunters ages 16 and older must purchase a Federal Duck Stamp before hunting each duck and goose hunting season. Many stamps are also purchased by bird watchers, stamp collectors and other conservationists in support of wetlands conservation. All stamp holders are allowed free admission to any national wildlife refuge charging a fee.

The first Federal Duck Stamp appeared in 1934 for sale at $1. Todays stamps sell for $25 and the proceeds are part of over $1 billion raised to conserve more than 6 million acres of habitat utilized by birds and other wildlife.

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Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved almost 15 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.

Media Contact:

John Gordon

901-758-3753

jgordon@ducks.org