54th Ward World Championship
Wildfowl Carving Competition and Art Festival
Roland E. Powell Convention Center
Ocean City, MD
April 25-27, 2025
Competitor Registration is at the Show
Thursday, April 24, 2025 from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday, April 25, 2025 from 7 a.m.-9 a. m.
If you are mailing/shipping in your entries because you are not able to attend please email kclattenburg@wardfdn.org for shipping/mailing instructions.
Show Hours:
Open to the Public Friday – Sunday
Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Living Legends Dinner 5:30 p.m.- 8 p.m.
The Living Legend Reunion Dinner is held at the Grand Hotel!
Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Winners’ Reception & World Division Presentation (AB Hall) 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. (Show tickets or badges required)
Enjoy a cash bar, hors d’oeuvres, beautiful wildfowl art, music, and World Division Ribbon Presentation.
Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Award ceremony (AB Hall) Noon
Award Checks will be available in AB Hall during and after the Award ceremony.
Admission:
Multi-Day Pass: $10
Seniors & Students – $8
Children under 12 free (with adult)
Living Legends Reunion Dinner Tickets- $75 members, $85 Non-members
Benefit Auction Preview
The World Championship is an international event where carvers, collectors, and visitors convene at the end of each April in Ocean City, MD. From highly decorative works of art to functional hunting decoys, about 1200 different wildfowl carvings representing more than 150 species from around the world can be viewed at the premiere, the most prestigious competition in the world. Competitors of all levels–from youth to world champions–compete against their peers for the chance to win a portion of nearly $60,000 in prize money, as well as other recognition including ribbons, medallions, plaques, and trophies. There are over 40 different divisions in which an artist can compete–decorative life-size and miniature wildfowl, floating waterfowl, interpretive, gunning decoys, contemporary antiques, and sculpture. #OCMDgoesWILDfowl
- See the World’s best wildfowl art! Check out this video from WBOC’s DelmarvaLife! And this video from PAC14!
- Attend seminars and classes by master carvers for artists of all skill levels.
- Shop from a wide variety of vendors for fine artwork, home decorators, art supplies, and more.
- Bring the children and artists in the family to the Art Corner to create fun make-and-take projects.
In honor of Ocean City’s 150th Anniversary the Ward World Championship will include a What Makes You Smile About Ocean City art area, where families and visitors will be provided with a small canvas to paint a souvenir painting about their OC memories. Canvases can be displayed at the Convention Center thru Sunday. - Golden Feather Hunt: Info coming soon! Register your business in 2025 Golden Feather Hunt by April 11.
- Stroll the boardwalk of the convention center while watching artfully carved decoys floating on the bay.
- Enjoy SpringFest at the Ocean City Inlet
With your multi-day event pass, there’s plenty to do at the Ward World Championship, all within a convenient walk or OC bus ride from your beach hotel. Driving an electric car? Here are places you can charge your car while in Ocean City, Maryland.
Questions about the upcoming show call 410-339-0668 or email kclattenburg@wardfdn.org!
Be a part of the event!
2025 WORLD LIFESIZE WATERFOWL PAIR SPECIES: HARLEQUIN DUCK
2025 WORLD SINGLE GUNNER SPECIES: BLUE GOOSE (LESSER OR GREATER, NO ROSS GOOSE)
2025 YOUTH SILHOUETTE: BUFFLEHEAD
YS & YSCA two fun ways to enter and to paint your bufflehead silhouette!
Click the link above to download the pattern!
2025 Ward World Championship Guide 2-18-25
Please watch for any updates or changes to the Guide. Each update will be dated in the button name. Thank you!
Alan Wycheck, the official Ward World Championship Photographer
All images used in the poster were taken by photographer, Alan Wycheck.
A huge thank you to our sponsors for their continued support of the Ward World Championship and the Ward Foundation!
Become a sponsor
If you have questions about becoming a sponsor or would like to donate to the Benefit Auction, please email kclattenburg@wardfdn.org.
Individual Sponsors
Jeff Bounds and Marg Bounds
Master Medallions in memory of their parents, Charles and Eleanor Bounds
Habbart Dean Memorial Fund
A. Danner Frazer Memorial awards for the Youth Division
Gary and Pam Stenger
Registration fees for Youth Division
Emile & Sandra Broussard
Youth Division
Pat and Jessica Godin
World Shootin’ Rig – Jimmy Vizier Memorial Award
Jett Brunet
World Pair – Tan Brunet Memorial Award
Michael Petrie
World Single Gunner – Rich Smoker Heritage Award
Josh and Laura Guge
Bob Guge Memorial Award for the Best Novice Songbird
Dr. Kent Kimmel
Novice Division Sponsor
Dan & Pat Burgette
Interpretive Divisions Sponsor
Jack Cox
Intermediate Division Sponsor
Robert Kroese
Intermediate Division Sponsor
Capt. Tommy Cornicelli
Gunning Pair Champion Sponsor
Tom Christie
Lem & Steve Hunting Decoy Sponsor
Eugene Merritt
Lem & Steve Hunting Decoy Sponsor
Karl and Deb Yankey
General Ward World Championship Sponsors
John Sullivan
General Ward World Championship Sponsor
Tommy Stewart
General Ward World Championship Sponsor
Kathy Marchut
General Ward World Championship Sponsor
Lynn Branson
General Ward World Championship Sponsor
Richard and Kathy Snyder
General Ward World Championship Sponsors
Del Herbert
General Ward World Championship Sponsors
Paul Rhymer
General Ward World Championship Sponsors
Jeff & Marna Krete
General Ward World Championship Sponsors
Rich Smoker
General Ward World Championship Sponsors
Anthony Donato
General Ward World Championship Sponsors
Tom Matus
General Ward World Championship Sponsors
Tom Flemming
General Ward World Championship Sponsors
James Van Ness
General Ward World Championship Sponsors
Ken Jewell
General Ward World Championship Sponsors
In Memory of Eric Beauchamp
General Ward World Championship Sponsors
Supporting Organizations
Ocean City, Maryland
TidalHealth
Chincoteague Decoy Carvers and Artist Association
Benelli USA
Delmarva Decoy Collectors Association
Delaware Museum of Nature & Science
Delmarva University of Making Birds
The Washington Brant Foundation
G&E Hardware
Guyette and Deeter
MDI Wood Carvers Supply
Ocean City Accommodations
Sharp Gas and Energy
A & M Auctioneers & Appraisers
Van Nuys Foundation
The Paper People
Louisiana Wildfowl Carvers & Collectors Guild
Indian River High School Construction Classes
Shore Proof Accounting Solutions, LLC
Smoker’s Shop North
Humes Construction Company
Park Place Jewelers
Ward World Championship Carvers and Supporters who donated items to the Benefit Auction
General
Maryland State Arts Council
Maryland Folklife Network
National Endowment for the Arts
Worcester County Arts Council