The Ward Foundation was named in honor of Stephen and Lemuel Ward, whose vision and artistry in carving decoys was instrumental in the transition of the decoy from a working tool to an expressive wildfowl sculpture.
For nearly 50 years the Ward World Championship has gathered hundreds of artists from around the globe for the largest bird carving competition in the world. Carvers from the United States, Canada, Japan, Russia and the United Kingdom make their annual pilgrimage to compete for a chance to win the coveted World Champion title, participate in the educational conference that enriches their talent, and immerse themselves in a celebration of wildfowl art.
We are carving out the future while preserving the past.