53rd Annual
NOVEMBER 8-10, 2024
EASTON, MD
Taking Flight
Soaring into Conservation and a Celebration of Waterfowl Heritage
A WELCOME MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
To our Waterfowl Family: My deepest appreciation! Waterfowl 53 is here, and we have already had an amazing year! It is a wonderful thing that the year-round work of our organization makes a difference in the lives of many others. This weekend represents the work of dozens of key partners and hundreds of volunteers united in one goal—the creation of an incredible event that raises money and awareness to help all of us remember the importance of safeguarding our precious natural resources. The memories we make together in these three days keep us motivated throughout the year! The special moments we experience with our friends, our artists and artisans, and our conservation and wildlife partners are a reminder of how important the preservation of this unique place and culture are to every single one of us.
Our staff has been at work for almost a year to make it all happen for our community, but we have not been alone in our efforts. To our volunteers, first and foremost, we couldn’t do this without you, and we are grateful from the bottom of our hearts.
To the Waterfowl Board of Directors, your guidance and endless support over the last year has been invaluable. To our artists, community and corporate partners, our exhibitors and vendors, and the special people of the town of Easton, truly you all have made 2024 a special year. I am so proud to be a part of an incredible organization that is making a positive impact.
Whether this is your first Waterfowl or your 53rd, I welcome you. Please enjoy every single minute of this special time with your friends and family!
Deena Kilmon Executive Director, Waterfowl Festival, Inc.
Photo by Jill Jasuta
Welcome Waterfowl FESTIVAL
Dear Friends of the Waterfowl Festival,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 2024 Waterfowl Festival! For over five decades, we have celebrated our region’s unique heritage. This year’s Festival promises to be another unforgettable experience. Many of your favorite exhibits are back and are joined by new and exciting venues.
Whether you are joining us for the first time or have been a longtime supporter, the Festival is a time to enjoy family and friends. I grew up in Easton and always enjoyed the Festival. However, our family really got involved when the children volunteered for the World Waterfowl Calling Contest—and the rest is history! All of us have found our niche—our son is currently a Festival chairman, all of our kids have been Ducksitters, and my wife, Victoria, has worked on many committees and projects that have expanded the reach of the Festival into our schools. We all love being a part of the Festival’s rich traditions.
As always, our mission goes beyond celebration. Proceeds from the Festival will continue to support waterfowl conservation efforts and help preserve the very habitats that are critical to sustaining the wildlife we all cherish. Your participation and support help make a lasting impact, ensuring that future generations will continue to enjoy the natural beauty of our region.
We have worked hard to make this year’s Waterfowl Festival a reflection of the best of our community—and we are so glad to have you here with us. Thank you for being part of this tradition. We hope you enjoy the art, the outdoors and the sense of community that make this Festival truly one of a kind and the best in its class in the nation!
Warm regards,
Eric Milhollan President, Board of Directors Waterfowl Festival 2024
Photo by Jill Jasuta
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Eric Milhollan, President
Julie Susman, President Elect
Tony Kern, Vice President
Mark Behm, Treasurer
Charles Wrightson, At Large
Mariah
Evelyn Westman
Joe Willey
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Patricia Crane
Kyle Ewing
Cathy Fawell
Chip Heaps
Jan Hynson
Chris Laznovsky
Dave Tyler
Barbara Harr Watson
Colin Perry
STAFF
Deena Kilmon, Executive Director
Sammie Mooney, Assistant Director
Nic Tindall, Assistant Director, Arts and Outreach
Front row, from left: Deena Kilmon, Cathy Fawell, Colin Perry, Jan Hynson, Mark Behm
Back row, from left: Kyle Ewing, Chris Laznovsky, Patricia Crane, Eric Milhollan, Chip Heaps, Charles Wrightson
Photo by Jill Jasuta
We’re delighted to share this special weekend with you! Your attendance of the Waterfowl Festival helps to support our education and conservation initiatives.
The Festival is at your fingertips! Get event schedules, venue information, artist profiles, locations, tickets and more!
Please note: The Waterfowl Festival is now cashless. Ticket booths will only accept credit/debit cards.
Festival Hours
Scan here with your phone’s camera!
Join us throughout Waterfowl Festival 53!
Thursday, November 7:
Opening Ceremonies: 5-6 pm (Tidewater Inn) Premiere Night: 6-9 pm (All art galleries open) VIP ticket purchase required.
Friday, November 8 & Saturday, November 9: 10 am-5 pm
Sunday, November 10: 10 am-4 pm
Get Your Official Merch
Visit The Festival Shoppes for official Waterfowl Festival shirts, sweatshirts, hats and more!
Avalon Theater—40 E. Dover St.
Elks Lodge—502 Dutchmans Lane
Marshland Mercantile—11 S. Harrison St.
The Armory—40 S. Harrison St.
Enjoy Our Entertainment
With five stages and more than 25 acts, the Festival features exceptional local musicians, all adding to its unique and captivating atmosphere. Plus, don’t miss “Name That Tune” with Young Ben Connolly at An Optical Galleria (19 N. Harrison St.), Saturday at 1 pm and 3:30 pm.
Photo by Jill Jasuta
CELEBRATING WATERFOWL
PARKING TIP:
We recommend parking at designated parking locations and using the bus system to make your way throughout the Festival. Bus usage is available for all Festival ticket holders. Just show your ticket to your bus driver.
BUS ROUTES
VENUES
SO MUCH TO SEE & DO!
This year’s Festival promises an unforgettable experience for attendees of all ages with activities that cater to art enthusiasts, wildlife lovers and outdoor adventurers alike.
Fine Art and Photography Exhibits
Renowned wildlife artists and photographers from across the country will showcase their work in a series of exhibits spread throughout Easton. Visitors can expect to see stunning paintings, sculptures, carvings and photographs that capture the beauty and majesty of the natural world. The works will be available for purchase, providing a unique opportunity to own a piece of art that reflects a deep appreciation for the outdoors. This year’s Featured Artist is acclaimed Texan sculptor and painter, Ronnie Wells. He is a crowd favorite and his works will shine in the newly expanded PNC Art Pavilion in the heart of the historic downtown.
All-New Quackin’ Trail for the Kids!
The Waterfowl Festival is a family-friendly event with a range of activities designed to engage and educate children. New this year is the Quackin’ Trail! Parents can pick up a map for their kiddos at our ticket kiosks. The trail will lead kids to educational activities, such as the Phillips Wharf Fishmobile, Skyhunters in Flight raptor show, live Mermaid presentations, face painting and art activities throughout the Festival. Kids 10 and under are free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Don’t miss the Kids’ Calling Contest at the Sportsman’s Pavilion!
Conservation Corner
The Waterfowl Festival is committed to the conservation of our wild open spaces and will feature presentations and exhibits from leading organizations in the Chesapeake Bay Pavilion. Learn about the latest efforts to protect and preserve vital habitats, and find out how you can get involved in local initiatives.
Rebekah Knight
Artist:
THE WATERFOWL FESTIVAL CONTINUES ITS LONG-STANDING SUPPORT OF CONSERVATION INITIATIVES ACROSS THE SHORE Care and Commitment
Conservation—it’s always been a foundation of the Waterfowl Festival mission. Since its inception in 1971, the Waterfowl Festival has donated nearly $6 million to conservation projects across the United States and Canada. The cause is just as important today, as modern efforts impact waterfowl populations, other wildlife and our region’s residents and visitors.
Recently, Waterfowl Festival officials toured a meaningful project that is supported in part by the funds raised from the Festival—and their takeaway was special. The Wellington Wildlife Management area in Somerset County, MD, is a 429-acre, mainly forested tract with several open-field complexes managed for herbaceous successional cover, providing a variety of habitats for native and migratory species. The Festival’s support helped purchase 10 additional acres of land that will be transformed into wetland habitat.
This is an excellent place to visit for a day afield during open hunting seasons for deer, turkey, dove, rabbit and squirrel. Non-hunting activities that are very popular among visitors include bird watching and photography.
You support the Waterfowl Festival’s Conservation Mission when you attend the Festival or make a contribution to the Waterfowl Annual Fund. While we may not be able to turn back time to when all waterfowl were legendary in abundance, we are committed to creating an environment to restore and conserve the presence of vibrant, stable and diverse populations, flourishing in clean and productive aquatic and wetland habitats. With your support, this is an achievable goal.
Proceeds from the festival support various environmental, art, student scholarships, and cultural initiatives, ensuring that future generations can understand and enjoy the beauty and diversity of waterfowl and their environments. The Festival also plays a vital role in supporting the local community, drawing visitors from around the country and boosting the regional economy.
The Waterfowl Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of the Maryland State Arts Council, the Maryland Historic Trust, the Town of Easton, Talbot County Government, and all of our incredible community partners, including the hundreds of volunteers that make all the magic happen.
If you need something to play outdoors, the festival will have it! Shopping pavilions include the Sportsman’s Pavilion featuring the ever-popular Molly’s Place Sporting Goods, the Chesapeake Bay Pavilion full of crafts and items you need for watersports, including some great boats from North Point Yacht Sales, the Marshland Mercantile with artisans and Festival store merchandise, multiple fine art pavilions, and the incredible Buy, Sell, Swap collector’s venue. New this year is the Guyette & Deeter auction and tailgate swap, complete with an incredible display of Cobb Island, VA decoys in the Harry M. Walsh Waterfowling Artifacts exhibit. Easton’s downtown merchants will also be stocked and ready for visitors. Visit DiscoverEaston.com for current business listings.
Eastern Shore Feast!
No festival is complete without great food— and the Waterfowl Festival is no exception! Enjoy a variety of culinary delights throughout downtown. Local restaurants are featuring incredible Chesapeake Bay fare and the food trucks scattered throughout offer something delicious for everyone. Thirsty? Our guests over 21 can enjoy our new Duck Blind and Decoy bars, the famous Bullitt Garden Tasting Pavilion and the ever-popular Beer Wetlands.
Going
the Dogs!
All of our outdoor venues are dog friendly! Three amazing exhibits specifically focus on our lovable furry friends. Dog lovers will be thrilled by the Retriever Demonstrations at the Bay Street Ponds, the incredible competition between professionals and amateurs alike at the Delmarva DockDogs exhibit, and the lightning fast Field Trial Dog Demonstrations at the Chesapeake Bay Pavilion. At each pavilion, visitors can enjoy a variety of beverages and foods to help make their experience especially tasty and fun.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8
LOCATION
Calling Contest
Sr. Division Registration
All Galleries & Exhibits Open
Dock Dogs
Registration/Practice
Children’s Story Time, Arts & Crafts All Day
Mascot Meet & Greet
Willa & Webster
Phillips Wharf Environmental Center’s Fishmobile All Day
Duck Blind Opens
Calling Contest
Callers Meeting
Kids’ Silhouette Painting Class Preregistration Required
Chesapeake Mermaid
Calling Contest
Sr. Division Prelims: Team Live Goose
Wine, Beer & Tasting Pavilion Opens All Day
Beer Wetlands Opens All Day
Retriever Demonstrations
The Outlaw Gunner Reenactment
Skyhunters In Flight Raptor Demo
Kids’ Silhouette Painting Class Preregistration Required
DockDogs
Big Air Wave Round 1
Calling Contest
Sr. Division Prelims: Team Live Duck
DockDogs
Big Air Wave Round 2
Retriever Demonstrations
Field Dog Training Demos
The Outlaw Gunner Reenactment
Kids’ Soap Carving
Preregistration Required
Chesapeake Mermaid
Skyhunters In Flight Raptor Demo
Kids’ Soap Carving Preregistration Required
Calling Contest
Sr. Division Prelims: Live Goose
DockDogs
Big Air Wave Round 3
Easton High School Auditorium
Festival Grounds
Sportsman’s Pavilion
Talbot Co. Free Library
Talbot Co. Free Library
Easton Visitor Center
Avalon Theater
Easton High School Auditorium
Academy Art Museum
Upstairs
Talbot Co. Free Library
Easton High School Auditorium
Bullitt House Gardens
Bay Street Ponds
Bay Street Ponds
Talbot Historical Society
Chesapeake Bay Pavilion
Academy Art Museum
Upstairs
Sportsman’s Pavilion
Easton High School Auditorium
Sportsman’s Pavilion
Bay Street Ponds
Chesapeake Bay Pavilion
Talbot Historical Society
Academy Art Museum
Upstairs
Talbot Co. Free Library
Chesapeake Bay Pavilion
Academy Art Museum
Upstairs
Easton High School Auditorium
Sportsman’s Pavilion
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8
Retriever Demonstrations
Field Dog Training Demos
Goose Music Conservation Kick-Off Free Event
Annual Fall Auction Preview Open to the Public Party at the Ponds Open to the Public
Calling Contest
Sr. Division Prelims: Senior
Calling Contest
Sr.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
DockDogs Registration/Practice
All Galleries & Exhibits
Children’s Story Time, Arts & Crafts All Day
Mascot Meet & Greet Willa & Webster
Phillips Wharf Environmental Center’s Fishmobile All Day
Field Dog Training Demos
DockDogs Big Air Wave Round 4
Duck Blind Opens
Kids’ Fishing Derby All Day
Duck Drawing Lessons
10 am
Bay Street Ponds
Chesapeake Bay Pavilion
Eastern Shore Land Conservancy
The Country School
Bay Street Ponds
Easton High School
Auditorium
Easton High School
Auditorium
Sportsman’s Pavilion
Festival Grounds
Talbot Co. Free Library
Talbot Co. Free Library
Easton Visitor Center
Chesapeake Bay Pavilion
Sportsman’s Pavilion
Avalon Theater
Bay Street Ponds
Talbot Co. Free Library
The Country School Annual Fall Auction
Kids’ Silhouette Painting Class Preregistration Required
Academy Art Museum Upstairs
10:40 am Fly Fishing Demonstrations Bay Street Ponds
Wine, Beer & Tasting Pavilion Opens All Day
Beer Wetlands Opens All Day
Chesapeake Mermaid
11 am The Outlaw Gunner Reenactment
Calling Contest
Jr.
Prelims:
Kids’ Calling Clinics Preregistration Required
Skyhunters In Flight Raptor Demo
11:30 am Kids’ Soap Carving Preregistration Required
Bullitt House
Gardens
Bay Street Ponds
Talbot Co. Free Library
Talbot Historical Society
Easton High School
Auditorium
Sportsman’s Pavilion
Chesapeake Bay Pavilion
Academy Art Museum Upstairs
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9
SUNDAY,
NOVEMBER 10
Wine, Beer & Tasting Pavilion Opens All Day
11 am 11 am
11:30 am
11:30 am
Chesapeake Mermaid Wings Over Water Documentary
Skyhunters In Flight Raptor Demo
Bullitt House Gardens
Ebenezer Theater
Talbot Co. Free Library
Chesapeake Bay Pavilion
Sportsman’s Pavilion
Speed Retrieve Competition
11:30 am Kids’ Soap Carving Preregistration Required
Academy Art Museum Upstairs
12:40 pm Fly Fishing Demonstrations Bay Street Ponds
1:30 pm Kids’ Silhouette Painting Class Preregistration Required
1:30 pm Chesapeake Mermaid
DockDogs
2 pm DockDogs
Big Air Finals—Division Finals Format
2 pm Skyhunters In Flight Raptor Demo Chesapeake Bay Pavilion 11 am
2:30 pm Kids’ Soap Carving Preregistration Required
Academy Art Museum Upstairs
Talbot Co. Free Library
Sportsman’s Pavilion
Academy Art Museum Upstairs
3 pm Field Dog Training Demos Chesapeake Bay Pavilion
4 pm Waterfowl Festival 53 Concludes Festival Grounds
FEATURED EVENT
PREMIERE NIGHT
Thursday, November 7
Schedule: 12-4 pm
VIP badge pickup
Bullitt House
5-6 pm
Opening Ceremonies
Tidewater Inn’s Crystal Room
5-9 pm
Art Galleries & Pavilions Open
Academy Art Museum welcomes guests with open bar & hors d’oeuvres. Bourbon bar presented by PNC Private Bank.
Complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides on Harrison Street.
Join us as we kick off the 53rd annual Waterfowl in style! Festival President Eric Milhollan will welcome everyone with a champagne reception at the iconic Crystal Room inside the Tidewater Inn. Presentations will include the unveiling of the 2024 Sculpture by Featured Artist Ronnie Wells, the introduction of the 2024 Federal Duck Stamp artist and proclamations from regionally elected officials and celebrity guest hosts.
The 2024 Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized, as well as 25-and-50-year Festival volunteers.
The ceremonies conclude with the traditional duck gavel being tapped by Easton Mayor Megan Cook. After the presentations, attendees will enjoy a first look at the Art Pavilions. The Cocktail Decoy Auction, benefiting the William A. Perry Scholarship Fund, will also begin at the Academy Art Museum. This year, two special decoys will be auctioned off with the winners announced by 9 pm.
Location:
All Art Galleries and Pavilions Open Downtown
Photo by Val D’Ambrosio
AUCTION
DECOY WILLIAM A. PERRY SCHOLARSHIP BENEFIT
Thursday-Sunday: Auction closes at 12 pm on Sunday, November 10.
The Waterfowl Festival’s Carving Committee is pleased to announce that the William A. Perry Scholarship Cocktail Decoy Auction will be held as a silent auction this year, so all festival-goers will have an opportunity to bid.
The one-of-a-kind carvings will be displayed in the Atrium of the Academy Art Museum from Thursday, November 7 through Sunday, November 10.
The Carving Committee extends a special thank you to fine carvers William “Scott” Belote, the Waterfowl Festival’s 2024 Masterpiece Carver, and Rich Smoker, a former Waterfowl Festival Masterpiece Carver and National Heritage Fellow, who donated special cocktail decoys as silent auction items exclusively for Premiere Night guests.
As they have for over 30 years, the proceeds from the auction will benefit the William A. Perry Scholarship Fund. Auction winners may either pick up decoys on Sunday afternoon or have them shipped.
Location:
Academy Art Museum 106 South Street
Photo by Jill Jasuta
EXHIBIT
Friday & Saturday: 10 am-5 pm Sunday: 10 am-4 pm
Learn about the evolution of waterfowling from an economic necessity to the sport of today at the Harry M. Walsh Waterfowling History & Artifacts Exhibit. Some of these seldom seen treasures, on loan from private and museum collections, date back hundreds of years, and include decoys, guns, gunning boats and countless related items. Many are priceless rarities shared by collectors, the value of which surpasses millions of dollars in total. This is your opportunity to meet and talk with the caretakers of the past and the authors of the books.
• Charles Huff Decoys from New Jersey
• Cobb Island, North Hampton County, Virginia Decoys
• Unique East Coast Decoys
• Rare Shorebirds from Virginia and Maryland
2024 EXHIBITORS
Bruce Baynard Dr. Lloyd & Martha Newberry
Rod Benjamin Ronnie & Kim Newcomb
Eddie Dean
Bob Jester
Ron Lewinski
Phil Riser
Henry & Judy Stansbury
C. John Sullivan
Location:
The Country School 716 Goldsborough Street
Photography by Grant L. Gursky
Ronnie & Kim Newcomb
Baird Easton 410-822-2140
easton.bairdwealth.com
SKYHUNTERS
IN FLIGHT
Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 11:30 am & 2:30 pm
Watch hawks, falcons, and owls sharpen their hunting skills during exciting flight demonstrations. Skyhunters in Flight provides a dynamic and educational program that offers an up-close view of these incredible predators. Experience the silent flight of owls. Wonder at the cunning agility of hawks on the hunt. Admire the speed of falcons as they dive from above.
A once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into the ancient world of falconry with Master Falconer Teddy Bradley and his trained birds of prey. Admission to all shows is included with your general admission Festival ticket.
Location:
Chesapeake Bay Pavilion
VFW Post 5118
355 Glebe Road
Presented by:
WORLD WATERFOWL CALLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
In this can’t-miss event, callers are immersed in the language of the incredible waterfowl of the region, competing against each other for the coveted title of World Champion. Callers from all around the world come to Easton once a year to showcase their skills, hoping to become immortalized in the history books of Championship Calling. Many of the industry’s leaders in waterfowl calling and hunting have gotten their start on the calling championship stage at the Waterfowl Festival.
Friday: Senior Preliminaries
Registration: 9 am
Callers Meeting: 10:15 am
Team Live Goose: 11 am
Team Live Duck: 12:30 pm
Live Goose: 2:30 pm
Live Duck: 4:30 pm
World Goose: 6:30 pm
Saturday: Junior Preliminaries
Registration: 11 am
Callers Meeting: 12:15 pm
Junior Live Duck: 12:30 pm
Junior World Goose: 1:30 pm
Saturday: World Finals • 5:30 pm
Junior World Live Duck
Junior World Goose
Team Live Goose
Team Live Duck
Location:
Easton High School Auditorium 723 Mecklenburg Avenue
Presented by:
Live Goose
Live Duck World Goose
Photo by Jay Fleming
DELMARVA
DOCKDOGS
Delmarva DockDogs is an affiliate of DockDogs Worldwide—and features 95 members from the Eastern Shore and beyond. DockDogs fosters an inclusive environment by encouraging anyone with a dog and a toy to take part in the sport and potentially achieve national recognition. Many competitions allow participants to enroll in a “Wave” (class). DockDogs strives to maintain a simple and fun atmosphere, while promoting camaraderie among competitors of all levels.
Competition Schedule
Friday
On-Site Registration/Practice
Big Air Wave — Round 1
Big Air Wave — Round 2
Big Air Wave — Round 3 10 am 1 pm 12 pm 3 pm
Saturday
On-Site Registration/Practice
Big Air Wave — Round 4
Extreme Vertical Competition
Big Air Wave — Round 5
Big Air Wave — Round 6 9 am 12 pm 10 am 2:30 pm 3:30 pm
Sunday
On-Site Registration/Practice
Big Air Wave — Round 7
Big Air Finals (Division Finals Format) 8 am 10 am 9 am 11:30 am 2 pm
Big Air Wave — Round 8
Speed Retrieve Competition
Location:
Sportsman’s Pavilion
Elks Lodge
502 Dutchman’s Lane
Presented by:
RETRIEVER DEMONSTRATIONS
Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 11 am, 1 pm & 3 pm
VENUE NOTE: This venue is only accessible by the Orange Bus Line, the Blue Bus Line or on foot. There is no parking at this venue. It is just a quick 5-minute walk from the courthouse.
Amazingly entertaining, the Retriever Demonstrations feature exceptionally skilled canines who show off by leaping into a pond to fetch a thrown or hidden dummy. You don’t have to be a hunter to appreciate the intelligence demonstrated by these retrievers and the training skills of their handlers, who are members of the Talbot Retriever Club.
NEW EVENT
PARTY AT THE PONDS
Have some fun with us at the Waterfowl Festival’s all new Party at the Ponds! Enjoy a disc golf demo, check out the live events and indulge in great food and drink options.
This year, Kelly Distributing presents “Beer Wetlands!” with all the latest craft brews and more on tap in the Kelly Distributing tent, plus Gourmet by the Bay’s famous cocktail trailer is on hand! This venue also features an assortment of food trucks, Gourmet by the Bay at the Village Shop’s incredibly flavorful line up, shucked oysters and The Sweet Fix, too!
Location:
Bay Street Ponds
212 Bay Street
Presented by:
WORKING
ARTISTS FORUM
Premiere Night Reception: 5-9 pm
Friday & Saturday: 10 am-5 pm
Sunday: 10 am-4 pm
Launched in 1979 by a small group of artists, Working Artists Forum (WAF)—with over 100 members—is a thriving arts organization with many vital connections within the arts community. WAF members exhibit widely, win awards, teach classes and workshops and actively participate in arts events throughout our region. Monthly member meetings promote camaraderie through discussion of upcoming exhibits and a lively demonstration by a well-known guest artist.
During this year’s Waterfowl Festival, 40 talented members will exhibit at Art at the Church. Wellknown Plein Air artist John Brandon Sills will judge the WAF show.
Its summer juried exhibit, Local Color (presented in partnership with the Avalon Foundation’s Plein Air Easton), attracts hundreds of patrons and enjoys excellent sales. Working Artists Forum also presents numerous group shows throughout the year, both on the Eastern Shore and in venues across Maryland and Washington, D.C.
To support student artists and their teachers, Working Artists Forum donates monies directly to elementary school art teachers for much needed classroom art supplies. Additionally, WAF helps support the Avalon Foundation’s After-School Art Program.
Location:
Christ Church Fellowship Hall 111 S. Harrison Street
Barbara Harr Watson
Artist: Carol McClees
Artist:
Donna Finley
Artist:
FLY FISHING DEMONSTRATIONS
Saturday & Sunday: 10:40 am & 12:40 pm
VENUE NOTE: This venue is only accessible by the Orange Bus Line, the Blue Bus Line or on foot. There is no parking at this venue. It is just a quick 5-minute walk from the courthouse.
Joe Capozzoli will show visitors the special techniques of casting with a fly rod—an ancient art that uses artificial lures instead of bait to catch fish. Try your hand with a rod—you may get converted to a new fishing religion of your own.
Joe is a rod builder and an avid light tackle and fly angler who has written articles for several fishing publications. He is on the St. Croix Pro staff team and is a Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) Certified Casting Instructor. Joe is also a very creative fly tier, probably best known for his grass shrimp pattern.
Don’t miss your chance to experience this popular Waterfowl Festival live presentation.
Location:
Bay Street Ponds
212 Bay Street
Presented by:
FIELD DOG TRAINING DEMOS
Friday—NAHRA: 1 pm & 4 pm
Saturday—Mason Dixon: 10 am & 4 pm
Sunday—NAHRA: 10 am & 3 pm
For those seeking insight into effective dog training techniques, the North American Hunting Retriever Association and Mason-Dixon Game Outfitters will amaze you with their upland field training demonstrations.
Unveiling the tried-and-tested Silent Command System, which was developed by dog trainers Rick and Ronnie Smith of Mason-Dixon Game Outfitters, this demonstration provides valuable insights into building discipline, obedience and camaraderie with your furry companions.
Both organizations’ expert trainers will be on hand to answer questions and offer personalized advice, ensuring you leave with valuable tools to enhance your relationship with your beloved four-legged friend.
Location:
Chesapeake Bay Pavilion
VFW Post 5118
355 Glebe Road
Presented by:
HIGHLIGHTED
THE OUTLAW GUNNER
THROUGH THE EYES OF DR. HARRY M. WALSH
Friday & Saturday: 10 am-3 pm
Reenactments: 11 am & 1 pm
Exhibition: Runs through December
Through the end of this year, Dr. Harry M. Walsh’s son, Joe Walsh, and the Talbot Historical Society have partnered to present “Outlaw Gunner,” an exhibit based on Dr. Walsh’s book of the same name. This exhibition is an informative and thoughtful tribute to the history of hunters, their legacy and the hope expressed in its final chapters—for conservation.
This exhibit chronicles the history of waterfowl and the Chesapeake Bay through Dr. Walsh’s eyes. On display are artifacts from Dr. Walsh’s personal collection on loan from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Department, as well as Joe’s and the Waterfowl Festival’s collections.
Dr. Walsh was a gunner, a surgeon, a WWII Veteran who served in the Pacific Theater and much more. But he did not stop there. In 1971, the same year The Outlaw Gunner was published, he and a few others founded the Waterfowl Festival. Committed to the Eastern Shore’s rich hunting and conservation history, the chronicler of the infamous punt gun served as the event’s first chairman.
Dr. Walsh’s original book, the updated 2020 hardback edition and this exhibition recount the devastating and dangerous life of bird hunters on the Eastern Shore. They also place readers on the frigid surface of those bitterly cold and perilous waters. Commercial hunters lying flat in a small boat on a glassy surface with a finger on the trigger may be gone. But because of Dr. Harry M. Walsh, their way of life will not be forgotten.
Location:
Talbot Historical Society 25 S. Washington St.
FEATURED EVENTS
FUN-FILLED ADVENTURES!
QUACKIN’ TRAIL
Little ducklings can pick up a Willa’s Waterfowl adventure map at any ticket booth and follow along for exhibits that will delight Festival enthusiasts young and young at heart! Activities include a live mermaid, the Phillip’s Wharf Fishmobile, face painting, goose calling clinic, silhouette painting class and a live terrapin exhibit. Be sure to find Festival mascots Willa, Webster and Winston for a special selfie that will make everyone smile. All kids’ activities are free for youngsters under 10 with an adult ticket. Please note that some activities require advance reservations.
CAST & CATCH!
Kids’ Fishing Derby
Saturday & Sunday: 10 am-4 pm
Volunteers from the MidShore Chapter of the Maryland Coastal Conservation Association instruct children on how to cast and reel in their line. The fish, generously provided by the Department of Natural Resources, are thrown back to swim another day.
Location:
Bay Street Ponds
212 Bay Street
LEARN TO CALL!
Kids’ Calling Clinic
Saturday: 11 am & 11:30 am
Join Sean Mann Outdoors for a free kids’ duck (11 am) and goose (11:30 am) calling clinic at the Sportsman’s Pavilion. Please note preregistration is required
Location: Sportsman’s Pavilion Elks Lodge 502 Dutchman’s Lane
Presented by:
FEATURED EVENTS
LEARN FROM A LEGEND!
Duck Drawing Lessons
Saturday: 10 am & 12 pm
Timothy Young is the author/illustrator of 16 picture books—and you won’t to miss the chance to have your child learn to draw ducks with him! Tim has been an animator, puppet maker, toy designer, sculptor, art director and graphic designer. His career highlights include being a head model-maker for Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, designing and building Muppets for Jim Henson Productions and sculpting the first Simpsons toys. Tim’s favorite part of being an author is traveling to schools and talking to kids about his books.
Location:
Talbot County Free Library 100 W. Dover Street
KEEPSAKE PHOTO TIME!
Meet Our Mascots
Friday-Sunday: 10-11 am
Parents and grandparents, get those cell phone cameras ready! You won’t want to miss the chance for a memorable photo moment with Willa the Waterfowl FOX and Webster the Waterfowl GOOSE. Be sure to be on the lookout for our newest mascot, Winston the Yellow LAB, too!
Location:
Talbot County Free Library (and Festival-wide) 100 W. Dover Street
UNIQUE STORYTELLING!
The Chesapeake Mermaid
Friday-Sunday: 11 am & 1:30 pm
Designed around trusted, firsthand experiences gained through wildlife rescue and habitat restoration, presentations combine education, artistry and entertainment to foster emotional connections to the Chesapeake Bay for all ages.
Location:
Talbot County Free Library 100 W. Dover Street
Timothy Young
ANNUAL FALL AUCTION
DECOYS, SPORTING ART & RELATED ITEMS
Auction Preview Event:
Friday: 4-7 pm (Open to the public)
Auction:
Saturday & Sunday: Beginning at 10 am
Guyette & Deeter, the world’s leading and most trusted decoy auction firm, will hold its Annual Fall Auction on Saturday, November 9 and Sunday, November 10 inside The Country School, in conjunction with the Waterfowl Festival.
The auction will showcase decoys by many Maryland and Virginia carvers, as well as quality decoys and paintings from around the country. Highlights include an extremely rare working swan by Sam Barnes of Havre de Grace, a pair of 1936 model pintails and a very rare ‘fat jaw’ model goldeneye hen by the Ward brothers. Many decoys and shorebirds carved and used on Chincoteague and Cobb Island, VA will be available for bidding as well.
A number of handsome ship paintings by Jacobsen and Buttersworth, as well as a vibrant oil on canvas by Joseph Kernan will also cross the block.
Location:
The Country School
716 Goldsborough Steet
Presented by:
Photography by
Jill Jasuta
Jon Deeter
CELEBRATING THEIR SERVICE
Each year since 1992, the Waterfowl Festival Hall of Fame Awards have been given in recognition of the commitment and impact that individuals have made on the Festival and in turn our community. We proudly honor these individuals who have had a significant hand in shaping our event into one of the premiere wildlife and waterfowl art shows in the country.
BLENDA ARMISTEAD
Blenda has volunteered for the Waterfowl Festival for the past 37 years, starting as an information guide, and then as a volunteer cashier. She served on the Board of Directors, first in 2002, completing a term for an early-retiring Board member, and then was elected for two of her own terms from 2004-2007. During her 2004-2006 service years, Blenda served as Board Vice President. Blenda has been a chairman of the Art Committee for at least 12 years, assisting with jurying artists, tracking sales and handling all in-person sales at the Art at the Armory exhibit. As longtime financial and volunteer supporters, Blenda and her husband, Bruce, have given countless hours championing the Festival and its mission.
RON FLOHR
Ron has volunteered for the Festival for approximately 25 years, beginning as a ducksitter. He served for five years as a member of the Board of Directors, handling various roles, including Vice President. Ron was also elected to two terms as President. In addition to his duties as President of the Waterfowl Festival Board, he held a position on the Board of the Waterfowl Chesapeake. He continues volunteering today because of his love for the Waterfowl Festival and the town of Easton.
SAMUEL “BUTCH” TOWNSEND
Butch Townsend is a 21-year volunteer of the Waterfowl Festival, serving as Sportsman’s chairman and a 3-term Board member. He served as Treasurer for many years and helped guide the Festival through Covid, agreeing to stay on as Treasurer during a critical time for the organization.
Ron Flohr
Blenda Armistead
Butch Townsend
Photography by Grant L. Gursky
DIETZ, FOUNTAIN & KALUDIS, P.A.
THE GENERAL PRACTICE OF LAW 16 SOUTH WASHINGTON STREET
EASTON, MARYLAND 21601
TEL: 410-822-1988
FAX: 410-820-5053
WWW.EWINGDIETZ.COM
PHILIP E. L. DIETZ, JR.
KAREN M. KALUDIS
SHARON M. VANEMBURGH
ALEXIS E. KRAMER
JOHN M. EGLSEDER
DAVID BAINES
WILLIAM C. CHAPMAN
AARON W. COOPER
IN CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM COMMUNITY
As part of our ongoing commitment to preserving our rural environment and supporting wildlife conservation, we are pleased to award grants to three outstanding organizations: Ducks Unlimited, Phillips Wharf Environmental Center and ShoreRivers. Each organization created exceptional projects that will educate and have a positive impact on our community.
“For over 50 years, we have supported organizations whose mission is to acknowledge the importance of our natural environment and open spaces—and work to preserve it,” says Chip Heaps, Conservation Committee chairman. “We congratulate Ducks Unlimited, Phillips Wharf Environmental Center and ShoreRivers for their exceptional contributions to this work and are excited to see the positive results of these funded projects.”
Every year, our Community in Conservation Grant Program accepts funding requests from non-profits and community organizations across the region whose mission is to make a difference in supporting our shared mission of environmental conservation. The program supports projects that are at the intersection of waterfowl and habitat conservation and how this impacts our community, whether they are focused on education and outreach, science and research or restoration. Ideally, projects include aspects of each focus area and benefit our waterfowl, their habitats and the people of our community.
From the coasts of Louisiana to the prairies of North Dakota, Ducks Unlimited’s conservation takes many forms. But each method is science driven and focused on one goal: to improve the landscape for waterfowl, wildlife and communities. These methods have conserved nearly 16 million acres in priority areas across North America.
The Phillips Wharf Environmental Center is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit whose mission is to encourage, educate and engage Chesapeake Bay stewards of all ages through interactive experiences showcasing the Bay’s ecosystem and its inhabitants. The goal of its work is to create a network of environmental stewards who are connected to the Bay and make daily decisions that support healthy ecosystems.
ShoreRivers exists to protect Maryland’s Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, education and engagement. Its values focus on Solutions-Oriented & Optimistic, Community-Centered & Trusted: These two powerful word pairs encompass many attributes that describe the way they approach their work, their communities and each other.
FESTIVAL VENUES & HIGHLIGHTS
ART AT THE ACADEMY
106 South Street—Academy Art Museum
Exhibitors welcome the opportunity to share their artistic talent with guests—both experienced collectors and those simply moved by one of the artists’ works. There is nothing like the thrill of purchasing one’s first significant piece of art directly from the artist.
Location Attractions: Paintings, Carvings & Sculptures Exhibition, Children’s Art Activities, Delmarva Craft Decoy Bar, William A. Perry Cocktail Decoy Auction, Waterfowl Nest Live Music Stage
Location Features: Restrooms, Food & Drink, Alcohol, Quackin’ Corner,
Presented by:
ART AT THE ARMORY
40 S. Harrison Street—Waterfowl Festival Building
See incredible wildlife paintings, carvings and sculptures from artists across the country.
Location Attractions: Paintings, Carvings & Sculptures Exhibition
Location Features: Restrooms, Ticket Sales
Presented by:
ART AT THE CHURCH
111 S. Harrison Street—Christ Church
Experience the Working Artist Forum, which puts the talents of 40 local artists on display.
Location Attractions: Juried Art Show
Presented by:
ART AT ESLC
114 S. Washington Street—Eastern Shore Land Conservancy
Meet the photographers whose work comprises our incredible Photography Exhibition.
Location Attractions: Photography Exhibition, 4 Dogs Patio Paw-ty, Goose Music Kick-Off Party (Friday night)
Location Features: Bus Stop, Restrooms, Food & Drink, Alcohol
Presented by:
AVALON CORNER STAGE
40 E. Dover Street—Avalon Theater
Take in a variety of music from the area’s top-tier music talent all weekend long.
Location Attractions: Live Music
Location Features: Restrooms, Food, Alcohol
Presented by:
BAY STREET PONDS
212 Bay Street
Festival guests can enjoy a glimpse of the hunting and angling world with retriever demonstrations, a kids’ fishing derby and fly-fishing demonstrations. Also new this year, the Ponds will host disc golf demonstrations, kids’ archery, cornhole and a Kids’ Quackin’ spot!
Location Attractions: All-New Beer Wetlands presented by Kelly Distributors, Redcoat Fisherman Carp Demos, Cocktail Bar presented by Gourmet by the Bay, Talbot Retriever Club demos and much more.
Location Features: Bus Stop, Restrooms, Food & Drink, Alcohol, Quackin’ Corner
Presented by:
BUY, SELL, SWAP
723 Mecklenberg Avenue—Easton High School (Gym)
Our trading bazaar features a staggering array of decoys, hunting and sporting memorabilia, books and much more. Prices range from pocket change to the thousands of dollars. Whether a dedicated collector, first time buyer or browser, any visitor can find something of interest!
Location Attractions Federal Duck Stamp and Final Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Winners Exhibition
Location Features: Bus Stop, Restrooms, Food & Drink
BUS DEPOT
25 S. Washington Street—Talbot Historical Society
Conveniently access all aspects of the Waterfowl Festival by utilizing our complimentary bus service all weekend long!
Location Features: Bus Stop
Presented by:
CHESAPEAKE BAY PAVILION
355 Glebe Road—VFW Post 5118
The VFW grounds hosts the “Big Tent,” where you’ll find a variety of vendors and conservation partner displays. This venue also features thrilling demonstrations, delicious food options, including boardwalkstyle fries, oyster stew, cream of crab soup, burgers and more, sporty shopping opportunities and live music.
Location Attractions: Archery demos, Skyhunters in Flight raptor demos, Field Dog demos, Chesapeake Marketplace, Food Vendors, Beer Tent, North Point Yacht Sales Display, Coastal Bath Music Stage
Location Features: Bus Stop, Restrooms, Food & Drink, Alcohol, Quackin’ Corner, Ticket Sales
Military Veteran Special: Get your first beer free, sponsored by Big Truck Farm Brewery, with valid Festival ticket & ID on Friday, Nov. 8.
Presented by:
DUCK BLIND BAR
40 E. Dover Street—Avalon Theater
New for 2024, The Duck Blind, inside the Avalon Theater, features seasonal craft beer releases and cocktails, including the official beer of the Waterfowl Festival — “In Flight” — a collaboration with Burnish Beer Company and Easton’s own Bird Nickel Brewing.
Location Attractions: Craft beer and cocktails, vendors and brewery shoppes, official Waterfowl Festival merch and official Waterfowl Festival beer.
Location Features: Restrooms, Food & Drink, Alcohol, Ticket Sales
Presented by:
EASTERN SHORE LAND CONSERVANCY
114 S. Washington Street
Showcasing this year’s amazing Photographers exhibit, ESLC is also the home of our new 4 Dogs Patio Paw-ty! Join the ESLC at “Goose Music Conservation Kick-Off” on Friday night!
Location Attractions: Photographers exhibit, 4 Dogs Patio Paw-ty, Goose Music Conservation Kick-Off (Friday), great food & beverages.
Location Features: Bus Stop, Restrooms, Food & Drink, Alcohol
Presented by:
EASTON HIGH SCHOOL
723 Mecklenberg Avenue
Visit the Buy, Sell, Swap collectibles room and sign up to compete in the World Waterfowl Calling Championships.
Location Attractions: Buy, Sell, Swap, Duck Stamps, WFF Calling Contest
Location Features: Bus Stop, Restrooms, Food & Drink
EBENEZER THEATER
17 S. Washington Street
The Prager Family Center for the Arts welcomes you to enjoy a free viewing of the documentary Wings Over Water, narrated by Michael Keaton, on Sunday at 11 am.
Location Features: Restrooms
Presented by:
FIRST AID
38 S. Harrison Street—Ashley Insurance Building
In the event you or someone you know requires medical care, please visit our team of trained medical professionals.
Location Features: Medical Care, Restrooms
Presented by:
GARDEN TASTING PAVILION
102 E. Dover Street—Bullitt House Courtyard
Celebrating our excellent Maryland vintners, brewers and producers of other gourmet items, you are sure to have a tasty experience when you visit this popular venue. Offering wines and beers, cheeses and sweets, this is a palate-pleasing pavilion!
Location Attractions: Beer, wine & spirit tastings and gourmet food. Beer and wine by the glass is available for purchase, and visitors may also purchase bottles to take home.
Location Features:
Bus Stop, Restrooms, Food & Drink, Alcohol
Location Requirement: In addition to needing a Festival badge or ticket to enter, there is a $10 wristband-glass-fee that allows anyone 21 and older to taste wines and beers.
Presented by:
FESTIVAL VENUES & HIGHLIGHTS
HARRISON & WASHINGTON STREETS
Walk up and down from the Academy Art Museum, all the way to the Tidewater Inn, as you enjoy live music, food, vendors and more.
Location Attractions: Art galleries, restaurants, food trucks, shopping.
Location Features: Restrooms, Food & Drink, Alcohol
LOST AND FOUND
11 S. Harrison Street—Easton Visitor Center
Should you misplace a personal item somewhere throughout the Festival, please stop by our Lost and Found location.
Location Features: Restrooms
Presented by:
MARSHLAND MERCANTILE
11 S. Harrison Street—Easton Visitor Center
A smorgasbord of shopping and education await you in the Marshland Mercantile! Check out our selection of outdoor apparel, including Brackish Life’s Official Waterfowl Festival apparel. Shop for the upcoming holiday season with our collection of vendors and entertain your little ones at the Phillips Wharf Fishmobile and with face painting, sponsored by Washington College.
Location Attractions: Maryland Environmental Services terrapin display, face painting, fishmobile, shoppes, complimentary blood pressure check, massage opportunities and more.
Location Features: Restrooms, Food & Drink, Quackin’ Corner
Presented by:
PNC ART PAVILION
40 S. Harrison Street—Under The Tent
See incredible wildlife paintings, carvings and sculptures from artists across the country. Meet the Festival’s Featured Artist, Ronnie Wells, who created the Waterfowl 53 commemorative sculpture and poster.
Location Features: Restrooms, Alcohol
Presented by:
SPORTSMAN’S PAVILION
502 Dutchmans Lane—Easton Elks Lodge
Outdoor enthusiasts and sporting visitors can delight in the array of industry vendors and shoppes, offering everything from big-game hunting adventure trips to the smallest fishing lure. Warm up in the indoor dining area that offers an expansive menu of fresh and local homemade foods. This venue is fun for the whole family with kids’ calling clinics, Delmarva DockDogs competitions, live music and much more.
Location Attractions: Molly’s Tent, Ducks Unlimited Music Stage, Delmarva DockDogs events, Sean Mann Outdoors kids’ calling clinic, expansive food, beverage and shopping opportunities and much more.
Location Features: Bus Stop, Restrooms, Food & Drink, Alcohol, Quackin’ Corner
Presented by:
TALBOT COUNTY FREE LIBRARY
100 W. Dover Street
Be sure to stop by with your little ones! Our craft corner will have a special story and associated craft each day, plus presentations from the Chesapeake Mermaid and meet Willa the Waterfowl FOX and Webster the Waterfowl GOOSE—each day from 10-11 am. Don’t miss Tim Young’s duck drawing lessons on Saturday at 10 am and 12 pm.
Location Attractions: Quackin’ and Craft Corner, engaging Chesapeake Mermaid presentations, Meet & Greets with Willa the Waterfowl FOX and Webster the Waterfowl GOOSE.
Location Features: Restrooms, Food & Drink, Quackin’ Corner
Presented by:
TALBOT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
25 S. Washington Street
Experience “The Outlaw Gunner” exhibit, which chronicles the history of waterfowl hunting and the Chesapeake Bay through the eyes of Dr. Harry M. Walsh—a surgeon, co-founder of the Waterfowl Festival and much more. Reenactors will tell the story at 11 am and 1 pm daily.
Location Features: Bus Stop, Restrooms
Presented by:
FESTIVAL VENUES & HIGHLIGHTS
TALBOT HUMANE DOGGIE DAYCARE
40 S. Harrison Street—The Armory Lawn
Can’t go anywhere without your pup, but sometimes need a little “metime?” Let Talbot Humane Society volunteers pamper your pooch while you enjoy the indoor exhibits.
Presented by:
THE COUNTRY SCHOOL
716 Goldsborough Street
Learn about the evolution of waterfowling, from an economic necessity to the sport of today at the Harry M. Walsh Waterfowling History & Artifacts, featuring Cobb Island and North Hampton, VA decoys. Browse through the wares offered by collectors during our popular tailgating event and participate in the decoy auction by Guyette & Deeter.
Location Attractions: Decoy Tailgate, Vendors, Guyette & Deeter auction, Harry M. Walsh Waterfowling Artifacts Exhibit.
Location Features: Bus Stop, Restrooms, Food & Drink
Presented by:
TIDEWATER INN
101 E. Dover Street
Join us at the beautiful Tidewater Inn in the Crystal Room for the opening ceremonies of Waterfowl Festival 53!
Location Features: Restrooms, Food & Drink
Presented by:
THOMPSON PARK MUSIC STAGE
2 S. Washington Street
Take in a variety of music from the area’s top-tier talent all weekend long.
Location Attractions: Live music
Presented by:
VIP HOSPITALITY SUITE
102 E. Dover Street—Bullitt House
The Bullitt House Lodge is reserved for our VIP Partners’ enjoyment.
Location Attractions: VIP bar and refreshments. VIP badge required.
Location Features: Restrooms, Food & Drink, Alcohol
Presented by:
FESTIVAL CHAIRPERSONS
Art at the Armory Hospitality (Bullitt House)
Blenda Armistead, Martha Horner
Art at the Armory (Volunteers)
Judy Knight
Artifacts
Kim Byington Newcomb
Linda Elben-Adams, EJ Milhollan
Bus Guides
Dennis Cassidy, Archie Tinelli
Calling Contest
Scott Christopher
Carving Gallery
Bruce H. & Louise Perry
Decorations
Deborah Ramsey, John McQuaid,
Tracie Thomas
Information Guides
Karla Wieland-Cherry
Music Director
Richard Alison
Office Volunteers
Marie Bradley, Karen Tolzman,
Pam Walsh
Packets
Michelle Hegadorn
Party at the Ponds
Kyle Ewing
Photography at ESLC
Sahm Doherty-Sefton
Square
Sarah Kilmon
Tasting Pavilion
Ellen Mielke, Angela Patterson
Sherri Hunt
Gennie Cronan
Ritchie Wheatley
Tickets Runner Transportation
Carl Treat
Tickets Replacement Traffic Control Volunteers
Nancy Espenhorst
Working Artists Forum
Maribeth Lane
Beer Wetlands at Christ Church
Dock Dogs (Assist)
Nancy Espenhorst
Duck Blind
Austin Durrer
Ducksitter/Youth Coordinator
Colin Perry
Festival Shoppes
Meg O’Rourke
First Aid
Stephanie Blades
Fishing Derby
Roo Wood
Fly Fishing
Joe Capozzoli
Food Truck Hospitality
Austin Durrer
Premiere Night
Albert & Jennifer Pritchett
Retriever Demos
Butch Chambers
Mike & Susan Galante
Sales Input
Karen Starkey
Sculpture Pavilion
Tom Lane
Security
Boots Robinson
Signage
Chris Earl
Sportsman’s Pavilion
Dave Tyler, Charles Wrightson
Sportsman’s Pavilion (Day Chair)
Matt Dunn
Lynne Davis, Kathy Harvey,
Sharon Waters
ARTIST PROFILE
FEATURED ARTIST
Ronnie Wells
The Waterfowl Festival is honored to welcome Texas-based artist Ronnie Wells as the Featured Artist for the 53rd Festival. Mr. Wells will exhibit both sculpture and paintings that he has created specifically for the event.
Story by Joe Willey
All the color, form, movement and inspiration an artist wants is around them if they only step outside. That is what the work of Texas-based painter and sculptor Ronnie Wells shows as easily as a duck floats on swells of gray-green water. Capturing the subtle movement or explosive energy of wildlife makes his paintings and sculptures valued and sought by collectors. This year marks his 38th visit to the Waterfowl Festival, and he returns as the Featured Artist. It is an honor and acknowledgment of the beauty and the focus of his body of work.
Growing up, Ronnie loved to draw. He would go outside with a sketchbook, sit, and record what he saw. Becoming an artist was a foreign idea, but
others encouraged him to use his gift. After graduating from Louisiana Tech with an art degree, he moved to Houston and worked at the famed MD Anderson Cancer Center as a medical illustrator.
He painted on the side. His work sold, and when a gallery gave him the opportunity for a solo show, he eagerly agreed. He resigned from his job to have the
“Being
asked to do the official sculpture, as well as the poster for the Waterfowl Festival, is one of the great honors I have received in my long career.”
time to complete the needed paintings. It was a step toward a full-time career as a painter. Ronnie and his wife Patricia were both excited and nervous.
The show went well, and he continued painting fulltime. But even though his paintings sold, he admits he was only eking out a living. He taught classes to supplement his income.
One day, one of his students asked if he ever tried sculpting. Ronnie had not, so the student brought him a block of paraffin wax to shape.
The wax sat in a corner until one Super Bowl Sunday, and when bored with the game, Ronnie picked up the wax. Enthused, he worked all night until two the next morning. Though he did not have the money, he had it cast. That night, he became a sculptor. Picking up one block of wax was a pivotal moment in his career.
Ronnie’s sculpture provided more income than paintings alone. Ducks Unlimited saw his work and
commissioned him for a monumental sculpture. “Gale Winds and Mallards” is displayed at the entrance of its headquarters in Memphis, TN. His work found appreciative collectors and high-profile settings and continued to win awards. His tasteful sculptures, blending metal and color, seem restless in their energy and long to escape back into the air and sun.
The work of Ronnie Wells, no matter the medium, draws the observer outside toward fields, rivers, and skies—toward something bigger. His experience has been varied, and collectors are enthusiastic.
Ronnie’s love of wildlife reflects the natural beauty of rural America and places like the Eastern Shore. This year, the Waterfowl Festival will highlight paintings and sculptures that resonate with anyone who has seen a landscape punctuated by rivers and marshes spreading across the peninsula. Seeing Ronnie’s work is a nudge to go outside, to listen and look. After all, outside is where wonder waits.
— Ronnie Wells
ARTIST PROFILE
William Scott Belote MASTERPIECE CARVER
Photography by Grant L. Gursky
Waterfowl Festival 53’s Masterpiece Carver, William Scott Belote, remembers carving his very first piece at the age of six. Not very fond of his effort, William tossed it in the trash of his father’s workshop. Awardwinning carver, Richard E. Belote, noticed the carving there, rescued it from certain doom and placed it on his shelf with other works, where it sat for the next four years.
“My father gave that carving back to me when I was 10 years old,” William recalls. “I have been carving ever since.”
Born in Nasawadox, VA, William has lived most of his life in Lewes, DE. For more than 50 years, William has followed in his father’s footsteps, pursuing his craft with precision, creativity and diversity. He works on as many as 20 decoys at a time, spending hundreds of hours on each, and even makes his carving tools by hand.
“My father influenced me very much,” he says. “I wanted to be just like my dad, and I would try to copy him. He never gave me any lessons, but he inspired me.
I owe all that I have achieved to him.”
Those accomplishments include being named the Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving winner in the Antique Division (5 times), the Cocktail Division (2 times) and the Cocktail Champion Division (once). He’s also a multi-time Chesapeake Challenge Antique, Floating and Shorebird Division winner. His accolades go on and on, like a stock ticker at the bottom of a TV screen.
“I have a pile of ribbons and plaques,” he says softly, with a smile.
William, together with his father, Richard, and his older brother, Ames, have garnered hundreds of awards and honors for their carving talents.
“I was shocked. It made me proud to be noticed in that fashion. It’s a great honor, because out of all the top-quality carvers that are at the Waterfowl Festival, to be chosen is amazing.”
— William Scott Belote
William is a USCG veteran and a retired merchant mariner/barge captain, where he traveled the east coast from Nova Scotia to Florida. He has few regrets, noting one as not teaching children the art and heritage of what he calls “the original folk art of our country” at The Ward Foundation.
“I loved doing it... If it could spark just one kid out of 100, it’s a success,” he says. “This is a dying art, unfortunately, and we need younger generations to carry it on. I really miss it.”
The news of being named Masterpiece Carver of the 53rd Waterfowl Festival caught him a bit off guard—and is one of his all-time distinctions.
“I was shocked,” William says. “It made me proud to be noticed in that fashion. It’s a great honor because out of all the top-quality carvers that are at the Waterfowl Festival, to be chosen is amazing.”
ARTIST PROFILE
STAMP OF APPROVAL
They say all good things eventually come to an end. Thus is the case for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Annual Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest, as artist Jim Taylor of Towson claimed its 50th and final first-place honor. Affectionately known as “The Duck Stamp Contest,” Jim won the 2024-2025 contest with his beautiful rendition of a pair of American Black Ducks flying over the marsh, titled “May They Always Fly.” Jim is one of two six-time winners, joining the late David Turnbaugh, also from Towson.
How long have you been an artist and what drew you towards creating works and competing in the Annual Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest?
Jim Taylor: I am originally from Betterton, in Kent County, MD, and as I was growing up, I had always admired the wildlife artistry and early duck stamp painting designs created by John Taylor and Louis Frisino. I was an “art kid” in high school, and then went to the Maryland Institute College of Art. I first entered the Maryland Duck Stamp Contest in 1982, and then entered and won the Maryland Trout Stamp Design Competition during my senior year of college. You could say I was then “hooked on painting wildlife” and entering the annual contests.
Jim Taylor
How many times have you entered the competition over the years?
The first Maryland Duck Stamp in 1974 was painted by John Taylor (no relation). I entered paintings every year from 1982-1997, often finishing in the Top 3 finalists. I then won my first Maryland Duck Stamp Contest in 1997. As the winning artist, you had to sit out of the competition the next three years to give other artists a chance. I went on to paint five more winning entries (2007, 2011, 2015, 2022), and now, in 2024, my winning painting, featuring American Black Ducks, celebrates the 50th anniversary and final year of this prestigious competition.
I have not been lucky enough to win the Federal Duck Stamp Competition, but I have been a Top 10 and Top 20 Finalist the past 20 years or so.
“May They Always Fly”
Are you an avid hunter/outdoorsman?
Although I am not a hunter, I am a big supporter of waterfowl hunting and conservation groups like Ducks Unlimited, including donating my artwork to their fundraisers.
Where do your inspirations come from in creating your award-winning works?
I have taken a lot of waterfowl and habitat photos over the years. I then create a couple rough design sketches, working out the composition and scene before I start a painting.
Did you know or have the chance to meet David Turnbaugh—the only other 6-time Maryland Duck Stamp Contest winner?
I met David a number of times. He was an amazing artist. He was a big help to me after I won my first Maryland Duck Stamp Contest, as he was the previous year’s winner. I am in good company with him, as we are both the only 6-time winners of the Maryland Duck Stamp Competition.
“I first entered the Maryland Duck Stamp Contest in 1982, and then entered and won the Maryland Trout Stamp Design Competition during my senior year of college. You could say I was then ‘hooked on painting wildlife’ and entering the annual contests.”
— Jim Taylor
ARTIST PROFILE
Walter Matia
THE SCIENCE OF SCULPTURE
Story by Joe Willey
Nothing may be more difficult in the fine arts than to make bronze—solid, hard, and cold—come alive. It is mass arrested in the act of motion, yet your mind sees the movement continue. Arguably, it should be impossible. But some, like sculptor Walter Matia, have developed a keen eye and gifted hand that capture motion and energy in cold, immobile metal.
Matia was always interested in biology and natural history. A native of Cleveland, OH, he took classes at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. By the time he was 16, he was working in the museum’s exhibit department, enjoying the team as they created in tandem and learning valuable lessons in project management that continue to influence his practical day-to-day studio operations.
After graduating from Williams College in Williamstown, MA, with degrees in biology and art design, Walter moved to Arlington, VA. He began working for The Nature Conservancy, a global environmental nonprofit, eventually becoming Vice President of Land Management. During his 11 years with the organization, he continued sculpting for pleasure.
Armed with a rich visual vocabulary from his training— including his experience with The Nature Conservancy— and a strong desire to be a sculptor, he became a partner
in a sculpture studio with two supporters and friends. Their financial support gave him a foundation to continue learning and producing with the expensive medium of bronze casting.
Sculpture, as Walter sees it, is not metal taxidermy, and he has spent his career as a sculptor working to master a range of motion. Energy, suspense and movement are all in his work. Instead of anatomically accurate sculptures absent of life, his work seems to be alive. Dogs poised on the edge of action are expected to move. Birds in the arc of flight seem to fly by the corner of your eye in quick and swooping flight. Even bulls, their solid bulk as heavy as granite, move with surprising kinetic energy.
Because he wants to know things well, he has a raving curiosity and has made it his goal to keep learning and improvising. “I haven’t wasted a day. It’s all been cumulative.” A sustained curiosity has kept his work fresh and his business healthy. His interests outside of sculpture have helped him thrive. “You are so much better off in the arts having many other things you’re interested in,” he says.
Those other interests and experience in the nonprofit world have helped him understand the business of operating a studio and strengthened his relationships with collectors. He is patient in developing a market for his work. After years of experience, Walter knows purchasing or commissioning a sculpture is a
solid commitment for the artist and the buyer.
Yes, the work of Walter Matia is biologically accurate and detailed, but under the accuracy is energy. His sculptures do not move, yet they are on the edge of springing away or exploding in flight. A heavier touch would ruin the delicate balance that he achieves. Instead, his love of biology and artistic skill render what is transient into something timeless, something always to be remembered.
ARTIST PROFILE
Fred Boyer
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Fred Boyer has traveled the world, but he has always remained close to his roots in Anaconda, MT. This is where he grew up, went to high school and majored in art education at Montana State University, nearby in Bozeman. His family recognized Fred’s artistic talents early.
“I was always painting or drawing” he says, crediting an aunt, whom he considered an accomplished artist, as an
inspiration. From early on, his family encouraged him to develop his talents.
After graduating from college, he went to Sitka, AK, where he taught art in the public schools, and worked as a hunting guide in the summers.
While he loves Alaska, Montana kept calling him back home. He returned to his home state and taught art in the public school system for 14 years. “Teaching art is a learning experience for the teacher as well as the student,” he says, recollecting his years in the education profession.
Although Fred studied sculpture in college, he didn’t get really serious with sculpture until he had been teaching for more than five years.
“The first pieces I did were pretty rough,” he recalls. Finding time for his talent wasn’t easy. He was teaching fulltime and working as a smoke jumper for the Forest Service during the summer months. By putting in long evenings and weekends, however, he succeeded in improving his art, and began to find a market in area galleries. He was still teaching when his works were first admitted to the prestigious C.M. Russell Western Art Auction in Great Falls, MT.
2024 WATERFOWL FESTIVAL ARTISTS
CARVERS
Photo by Grant L. Gursky
TOM AHERN
Bethlehem, PA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
New Orleans, LA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Camden, NC
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Rochester, NY
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Lewes, DE
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
STEVE BURELISON
Bradford, OH
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Elizabeth City, NC
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Lenoir, NC
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Moravian Falls, NC
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Candor, NY
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Miffinburg, PA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Philadelphia, PA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
MIKE BONNER
WILLIAM BELOTE
AUDIE BELOISE
RANDY CONNER
JACK COX
AL JORDAN
IVIE ELLIOTT
PETE LUPO
ROB ENDERS
RICH METZGER
TED
Parsonsburg, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Marion, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Pocomoke City, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Felton, PA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
ROSS SMOKER
Selinsgrove, PA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Marlton, NJ
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Berlin, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Pottstown, PA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Choptank River
Cambridge
MORLOCK
RICHARD SMOKER
JOHN ONDEK
BENNETT SCOTT
RICHARD SNYDER
HERB WATSON
HARVEY WILSON
American Wigeon
We’re honored to celebrate the timeless tradition of waterfowl conservation 53rd Annual Waterfowl Festival. This year, we join in the festivities to highlight the vital connection between the coastal lifestyle and protection of waterfowl habitats.
PAINTERS
Richard Clifton
Artist:
SUSAN DELEARIE ADAIR
Schenectady, NY
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
JILL BASHAM
Trappe, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Hebron, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Elmore, OH
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Tilghman Island, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Milford, DE
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Cockeysville, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Salisbury, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Bordentown, NJ
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Asphodel-Norwood, ON, CA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Hamilton, MT
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Leesburg, VA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
SANDRA ALANKO
RICHARD CLIFTON
AL BARKER
LORI DUNN
JOHN EISEMAN
JEAN GIDICH
NED EWELL
WILHELM GOEBEL
CYNTHIE FISHER
LORI GOLL
Orange, CA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Appleton City, MO
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
London, ON, CA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Boone, NC
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Woodbine, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Pittsburgh, PA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Takoma Park, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Arnold, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Oneonta, NY
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Pequea, PA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Centreville, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Easton, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
CAROL HEIMAN-GREENE
REBEKAH KNIGHT
BRENDA KIDERA
YELANA LAMM
DAVID KIEHM
LAURA MARK-FINBERG
KELLY MCNEIL
CLAYTON PENNELL
TERRY MILLER
VLADIMIR PIVEN
PETER NEVINS
SARA LINDA POLY
Chestertown, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Belle Haven, VA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Millville, NJ
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Easton, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Baltimore, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Easton, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Easton, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Baltimore, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Circle Pines, MN
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
STEVE
Lewes, DE
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Wilmington, NC
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Easton, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
MARY PRITCHARD
ELIZABETH RHOADES
JULIA PURINTON
JULIA ROGERS
JIM RATACZAK
ROGERS
DREW SCARPA
NANCY TANKERSLEY
SUSAN FAY SCHAUER JOHN
MARY VEIGA
JOE SEME
STEWART WHITE
CHRISTINE
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Sharon Denny Photographer:
Easton, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at ESLC
Milton, DE
Exhibiting at: Art at ESLC
Townsend, DE
Exhibiting at: Art at ESLC
Milton, DE
Exhibiting at: Art at ESLC
Wilmington, DE
Exhibiting at: Art at ESLC
Easton, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at ESLC
Easton, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at ESLC
Dover, DE
Exhibiting at: Art at ESLC
Chesapeake Bay Tilghman Island
SHARON DENNY
KEVIN FLEMING
KIM JOHNSON
PHIL MCGREW
SARAH ANN JUMP
JULIE MEMMOLO
HEATHER ORKIS
KENNETH ROSE
Great Blue Heron
SCULPTORS
Paul Rhymer
Artist:
Anaconda, MT
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Hermosa, SD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Charleston, SC
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
Chesapeake Beach, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Silver Spring, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Savannah, GA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Milwaukee, WI
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Brighton, CO
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Fort Atkinson, WI
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Dickerson, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Point of Rocks, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Gatineau, QC, CA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Armory
FRED BOYER
JIM GREEN
DAVE DUNN
BERNIE HOUSTON
MARK DZIEWIOR
WALT MATIA
SCOTT PENEGAR
LARRY RINGGOLD
DON RAMBADT
KIM SHAKLEE
PAUL RHYMER
ERIC TARDIF
Onley, VA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
East New Market, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
St. Michaels, MD
Exhibiting at: Art at the Academy
Marietta, GA
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
Salado, TX
Exhibiting at: Art at the Pavilion
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Come visit us today or call Rachel Smith at 410.820.8732 to find out how you can start living Your Life, Your Way!
DAVID TURNER
JEFFREY WILLEY
JEN WAGNER
CHRIS WILSON
RONNIE WELLS
E xperienceST. MICHAELS
FOXY’S
OYSTER STEW
Recipe by Chef Doug Wodja Foxy’s Harbor Grille
Ingredients
1½ qt potatoes, diced small, rinsed, and soaked in a bowl of water (save water)
½ cup celery, diced
½ cup yellow onion, diced
1 bay leaf
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp fresh garlic, minced
1 tsp thyme
1 Tbsp parsley, chopped
1 Tbsp Old Bay or other blackening seasoning
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 qt whole milk
1 qt heavy cream
1 stick butter
2 pints oysters, freshly shucked (save oyster liquor)
1 cup corn starch
½ cup water (for slurry)
Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
In a pot, over medium heat, add butter, vegetables and spices and stir until vegetables are tender. Add bay leaf, potatoes and saved potato water. Let simmer, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender.
Add heavy cream, whole milk and oyster liquor. Once potatoes are soft, bring pot to a boil, gradually add the slurry (cornstarch & water mixture) until the stew begins to thicken. Bring back down to medium heat and let simmer.
In a separate pan, lightly sauté freshly shucked oysters until edges start to curl, then add to the hot stew. Adjust seasonings to taste.
Serve and enjoy!
Waterfowl Festival Corporate Partner
SOUP
Recipe by Executive Chef Ray Cooper
Tidewater Inn
Soup Ingredients
1 snapping turtle (12-14 lbs), cleaned
1 gallon prepared turtle stock, homemade or commercial
1 gallon water
27 oz tomatoes
54 oz tomato puree
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp Tabasco
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 bay leaf
½ tsp pickling spice
½ tsp salt
A pinch of pepper
2 stalks of celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 lb cooked beef bones
2 lbs chicken or turkey carcasses
Roux Ingredients
½ cup butter
½ cup flour
Instructions
Combine soup ingredients in a large stockpot. Simmer until the meat is tender. Remove the turtle from the pot, strip the carcass of meat, and then dice the meat. Set aside. Strain the stock.
Make the roux by melting the butter in a skillet over low heat, gradually sprinkling in the flour and stirring until the mixture is browned. Add the roux and diced turtle meat to the strained stock. Serve with sherry, if desired.
Executive Chef Ray Cooper
Photos courtesy Tidewater Inn
CANADA
GOOSE JERKY
Recipe by Executive Chef Jono Morris The Oaks
Ingredients
5 lbs or about 6 each fresh Canada goose breasts
1 cup soy sauce
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup molasses
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp onion powder
2 Tbsp kosher salt
1 Tbsp red pepper flakes, crushed
1 Tbsp fresh ground black pepper
1 tsp of liquid smoke if using the oven method (optional)
Instructions
Lay out the breasts on a wax paper lined cookie sheet and put in the freezer for about an hour. Combine all the other ingredients thoroughly in a glass or stainless-steel mixing bowl with a whisk, until most of the sugar and salt has dissolved. Remove the breasts from the freezer and slice them lengthwise into 3/16-inch strips as evenly as possible with a sharp knife. The partially frozen meat will make this task much easier. Toss the sliced goose in the marinade and transfer everything to a 1-gallon Ziploc bag for refrigeration overnight.
Remove all racks and preheat the oven or smoker to 140°F. If using an oven, line the bottom with aluminum foil. Lay out the sliced breasts on a paper towel lined cookie sheet and discard the marinade. Skewer one end of each strip of breast with a toothpick. Lower the marinated strips through the oven or smoker racks so that they hang by the toothpick.
Space the hanging meat evenly so that they are not touching. Slide the rack back into the preheated oven or smoker in its highest position.
Repeat the process for a second rack, making sure that it does not come in contact with the meat above on the first rack. Allow to cook at 140°F for 4 hours. Increase oven or smoker temperature to 200°F and crack the door slightly to allow moisture to escape. Cook for an additional 2½ hours.
Remove the racks from the oven and transfer the jerky to a cooling rack while twisting out the toothpicks. Allow the jerky to cool completely. Vacuum seal into desired portion sizes or store in Ziplock bags. Freeze for long term storage.
Jono Morris
“This simple recipe works well with a variety of wild game, but the lean and uniform texture of the flavorful wild Canada goose breast makes for the perfect snack to share with hunting buddies in the blind.”
BAS ROUGE’S
OYSTER STEW
Recipe by Executive Chef Harley Peet
Bas Rouge
Ingredients
1 large yellow onion, diced
1 whole lemon
4 ribs celery, diced
2-3 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, med diced
8 oz bacon, cut in 1-inch pieces
1 stick unsalted butter
48 oz heavy cream
1/2 cup flour
1 pint fresh shucked oysters plus liquid
Old Bay to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
In a heavy bottom pan, render bacon till crispy, remove and set aside. Save the rendered fat. Clean pan of any dark fond, as it will tint the finished soup.
Once clean, melt half the butter and some bacon fat to taste and add celery, diced potatoes and onions. Sweat out on medium heat (no color or caramelizing) until translucent.
Sprinkle flour over sautéed celery, onions and potatoes, adding butter if needed, to create a roux in the pot with the vegetables.
Reduce heat and add heavy cream. Whisk well and bring to simmer. Once thickened and potatoes are cooked, add oysters strained of the liquid season to taste with salt, pepper, lemon juice and Old Bay.
Bring back to a light simmer to just barely cook the oysters. Adjust the consistency with the oyster liquid as desired.
Executive Chef Harley Peet James Beard Award Winner— Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic
Photos courtesy Bluepoint Hospitality
FESTIVAL OF FLAVORS
Friday & Saturday: 10 am-5 pm
Sunday: 10 am-4pm
Academy Art Museum/PNC Art Pavilion
Delmarva Craft
Bay Street Ponds
Choptank Terrapin
Gourmet by the Bay at The Village Shoppe
The Sweet Fix Treats & Cookies, LLC
Dover Street
Jimmy’s Fat Rolls
Tri County Ruritan
Eastern Shore Conservation Center
4 Dogs Brewing
Easton High School
Easton FFA
Glenwood Extension
Rusticana Pizza
Harrison Street
Black Horse Kettle Corn, LLC
Big Bad Wolf Bacon
Delightful Bites
Experience Smith Island
Stevie G Jerky
Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee-Tea
South Street
Chesapeake Chef Service
Christ Church—Saints Peters & Paul Parish
Talbot County Free Library
Be There Lemonades and Lattes
Eternal Life Ministries
The Country School
Hometown Heroes BBQ
Washington Street
Easton Lions Club
Hot Off the Coals BBQ, Inc.
Photos by Val D’Ambrosio
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
MEDIA PARTNERS
APG
Attraction
Chesapeake
Decoy
Delmarva
Our deepest gratitude to all of our corporate and community partners that helped make Waterfowl 53 a success! We also thank our incredible Waterfowl Family of volunteers that make all the magic happen.
See YouNext Year!
November 14-16, 2025
DORCHESTER CO.
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