Event Schedule | Ward Foundation, Inc.

Printable Schedule 2025

Monday – Thursday

Educational Conference – The Educational Conference offers 1 to 3 day carving classes from master carvers.
Smoker Brothers at the Grand Hotel carving a 1932 Pinch Breast Canvasback Hen and painting with mixed media (pre-registration required)

Thursday

11:00 AM- 8:00 PM
- Wildfowl Competition Registration at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center
- Class: Composition and Design with Josh Guge (Class filled)
- Class: Carving the Eyes and Bill on a Shorebird Bust with Tommy Stewart (Class filled)
2:00 – 4:00
- Lecture: A Discussion of the Design and Creation of Several World Class Pieces with Pat Godin
  - Room 217B
  - FREE

Friday

Show Hours 10:00 to 5:00. All Judging in Hall A/B unless otherwise noted

7:00 – 9:00
- Wildfowl Competition Registration
9:30
- Judging – World Divisions
  - Decorative Life-size Wildfowl
  - Decorative Miniature Wildfowl
  - Interpretive Wood Sculpture
  - World Shootin’ Rig Division – Assawoman Bay
    - Note: Judging time on the Bay may be changed at the discretion of the judges
9:30 – 11:00
- Panel: Collecting History with C. John Sullivan, Rod Benjamin, Chris Pusey, Burt Campbell
  - Upstairs Room 217B
10:00
- Judging – Advanced, Intermediate, Novice Divisions
  - Decorative Life-size Floating Waterfowl
  - Decorative Life-size Wildfowl
  - Interpretive Wood Sculpture
  - Decorative Miniature Wildfowl
10:00- 12:00
- Demo: Youth Carver Jack Revie
  - AB Hall Demo Booth
  - Please note demo times are subject to change
10:00 – 5:00
- Golden Feather Hunt – Ocean City, Maryland
- Photo Studio with Alan Wycheck
- Art Corner – Featured art activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- Carving Demonstrations
11:00
- Judging – World Division
  - Decorative Life-size Waterfowl Pair
  - World Single Gunner Decoy (When Shootin’ Rig is done)
    - Note: Judging times on the Bay may be changed at the discretion of the judges
- Judging – Masters Divisions
  - Decorative Life-size Wildfowl
  - Decorative Miniature Wildfowl
  - Interpretive Wood Sculpture
11:15 – 12:15
- Lecture: Creating a Winning Waterfowl Pattern with Tom Christie
  - Upstairs Room 217A
Noon
- Judging- Masters Division
  - Decorative Lifesize Floating Waterfowl
1:00
- Judging – Lem & Steve Ward Competition
  - Single Gunner – Assawoman Bay*
    - *Note: Judging times on the Bay may be changed at the discretion of the judges
1:00 – 2:00
- Lecture: Bill Detail and Support with Tommy Stewart
  - Upstairs Room 215B
1:30
- Judging – Advanced Decorative Miniature (may be judged as early at 10 am)
2:00
- Judging – Sculpture Other Than Wood
- Judging – Feathers
- Judging – Fronds
2:15 – 3:15
- Lecture: Owl Anatomy: Applying the Intricacies to Your Carving with Al Jordan
  - Upstairs Room 217A
2:30
- Judging – Lem & Steve Single Gunner (**may start after lunch at clerk & judges choice**)
2:30
- Demo: Jeff Rechin and Larry Barth
  - AB Hall Demo Booth
  - Please note demo times are subject to change
3:30 – 4:30
- Panel: The Backgrounds of Sculpture with Paul Rhymer, Dan Burgette
  - Upstairs Room 217B
4:30
- Judging – Intermediate, Novice Divisions
  - Best in Show
5:30
- Living Legends Reunion Dinner (Advance Ticket Required), The Grand Hotel

Saturday

Show Hours 9:00 to 5:00. All Judging in Hall A/B unless otherwise noted

9:00 – 5:00
- Art Corner – Featured art activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- Carving Demonstrations
- Golden Feather Hunt – Ocean City, Maryland
9:00
- Judging – Lem & Steve Ward Divisions
  - Contemporary Antique
  - Contemporary Decoys & Champion
  - Shorebird Decoy
  - Decorative Smoothie Waterfowl & Champion
- Judging – Bench Divisions
- Judging – Lem & Steve Ward Divisions on the bay
  - Gunning Pair
  - Gunning Pair Champion (after GP)
    - *Note: Judging times on the Bay may be changed at the discretion of the judges
10:00 – 5:00
- Photo Studio with Alan Wycheck
11:00
- Judging – Lem & Steve Ward Divisions:
  - Decorative Smoothie Shorebirds & Wading Birds
  - Champagne Divisions
  - Youth Competition
  - Youth Gunning Pairs – Tanks
11:15 – 12:15
- Lecture: Challenges of Carving Miniatures with Dick Snyder
  - Upstairs Room 215B
1:00
- Champagne Waterfowl Silent Auction starts (goes until noon Sunday)
1:00 – 2:00
- Lecture/Workshop: Critiques with Peter Palumbo
  - Upstairs Room 217A
1:00 – 2:30
- Demo: Al Jordan
  - AB Hall Demo Booth
  - Please note demo times are subject to change
1:00 – 4:00
- Class: Beginner Carving Class with Ross Smoker
  - Sign Up Required
2:15: 3:15
- Lecture: Color Theory 101 with Peter Palumbo
  - Upstairs Room 217A
2:30
- Demo: Scott Belote
  - AB Hall Demo Booth
  - Please note demo times are subject to change
3:30 -4:30
- Lecture: From the Field to Finished with Larry Barth
  - Upstairs Room 217B
5:00 – 7:00
- Around the Worlds Mixer -AB Hall
  - Cash Bar and Hors d’oeuvres
  - World Division Winners Announced (6:00)

Sunday

Show Hours 10:00 to 3:00

8:00 – 10:00
- Carvers and guest (with a badge) special photo session – A/B Hall
10:00 – 2:00
- Carving Demonstrations
- Art Corner – Featured art activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- Golden Feather Hunt – Ocean City, Maryland
- **Champagne Waterfowl Silent Auction continues until noon
10:30 – 11:30
- Panel: Carving for 150 Years and Counting with Larry Barth, Pat Godin, Jett Brunet
  - Upstairs Room 217B
- Demo: Art Leonard
  - AB Hall Demo Booth
  - Please note demo times are subject to change
12:00
- Awards Presentations
  - Living Legends
  - Special Awards
  - People’s Choice
  - Youth
  - Sculpture
  - Divisions: Lem & Steve, Novice, Intermediate, Advance
  - Special Memorial Awards
  - Masters
  - Worlds
3:00
- Carving Check Out

Times and events subject to change.

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