The Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association presented its annual Excellence in Craft Awards at spring conference banquet held Saturday, May 16 at the Penn Harris Hotel in Harrisburg, Pa.
Awards Chair Grey Berrier presented first-place awards to 17 different winners across a total of eight Core Award and 22 Specialty Award categories. Overall, 30 members submitted a total of 329 entries across 30 categories. Our thanks to the 53 judges who participated in determining the best among each category.
Core Awards
Best Newspaper Column Award
Sponsored by Bob & Linda Steiner
• Winner: “Buzzer Beaters” by Marshall Nych, published in the Record Argus, Greenville, September 20, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “The Family River” by Marshall Nych, published in the Record Argus, Greenville, July 5, 2025.
Best Newspaper Feature Award
Sponsored by Pennsylvania Hunters Sharing the Harvest
• Winner: “Life is an endless series of stories” by Wade Robertson, published in the Olean Times Herald Weekend, October 18, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Mussel therapy: Efforts underway to restore mussels in Dunkard Creek” by Ben Moyer, published in the Herald Standard, Uniontown, June 1, 2025.
Best Magazine or Regional Newspaper Column Award
Sponsored by POWA EIC Entries
• Winner: “Old New Borrowed & Blue” by Tyler Frantz, published in Pennsylvania Game News, November 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Beautifully Beside: a Destination to Treasure” by Marshall Nych, published in Pennsylvania Game News, September 2025.
Best Magazine or Regional Newspaper Feature Award
Sponsored by Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists
• Winner: “An Upland Lifestyle” by Timothy Flanigan, published in Covers Magazine, Winter 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Keep Hunting: A Sportsman Gets His Wish” by Bob Frye, published in Pennsylvania Game News, January 2025.
Best Published Newspaper Photo Award
Sponsored by POWA Past Presidents
• Winner: “Keeping Track, Baltimore Oriole” by Tom Tatum, published in the Reading Eagle, December 23, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “A Boatload of Fun” by Tyler Frantz, published in PA Outdoor News, December 21, 2025.
Best Published Magazine Photo Award
Sponsored by POWA EIC Entries
• Winner: “Catch of the Day” by Linda Stager, published in Mountain Home Magazine, April 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Black Birch Grouse” by Timothy Flanigan, published in Covers Magazine, Winter 2025.
Lantz Hoffman Broadcast Media Award
Sponsored by Karen Wolf
• Winner: “Under the surface of the Keystone State with geologist Russel Losco” by Christian Alexandersen, the Hemlocks to Hellbenders podcast, October 22, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Here’s how Pennsylvania fights 2,000 wildfires every year” by Christian Alexandersen, the Hemlocks to Hellbenders podcast, June 4, 2025.
Best Published Art Award
Sponsored by POWA EIC Entries
• Winner:“Winter Wapiti” by Gerry Putt, published in Pennsylvania Game News, January 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Three Bucks” by Ken Hunter, published in Pennsylvania Game News, December 2025.
Specialty Awards
POWA Pass It on Award
Sponsored by PA Environment Digest
• Winner: “Judging Distance” by Lilace Guignard, published in Rivers, Ridges, and Valleys: Essays on Rural PA, Catamont Press, February 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Beautifully Beside: a Destination to Treasure” by Marshall Nych, published in Pennsylvania Game News, September 2025.
Wildlife Conservation Partnership Award
Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Game Commission
• Winner: “Getting Kids Excited about Fishing and Conservation” by Linda Stager, published in Pennsylvania Angler & Boater, January/February 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Perfect Fit: Grouse Hunters Help Solve Puzzle” by Bob Frye, published in Pennsylvania Game News, September 2025.
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Raptor Conservation and Eco-Tourism Award
Sponsored by Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
• Winner: “Nature Camps open world of discovery to young students” by Doyle Dietz, published in the Pottsville Republican Herald, March 2, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Dungeons, Dragons, and Duck Hawks” by Marshall Nych, published in the Record Argus, Greenville, January 4, 2025.
Pennsylvania Elk Resource Award
Sponsored by Keystone Elk Country Alliance
• Winner: “Patience & Persistence: Teen become youngest Pennsylvania female archer to get bull elk” by Brian Whipkey, published in the Daily American, Somerset, September 27, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Remarkable Recovery and a Breath of Fresh Air” by Bob Frye, published in Pennsylvania Game News, February 2025.
Best Action Hunting, Trapping, or Fishing Photograph Award
Sponsored by POWA EIC Entries
• Winner: “Getting Kids Excited about Fishing and Conservation” by Linda Stager, published in Pennsylvania Angler & Boater, January/February 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Woodcock Flush” by Timothy Flanigan, published in Covers Magazine, Spring 2025.
Best Conference Related Material Award
Sponsored by Visit Erie
• Winner: “A Relentless Pursuit” by Marshall Nych, published in the Record Argus, Greenville, June 7, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Taking the pulse of a walleye wonderland” by Tom Tatum, published in the Daily Local, West Chester, May 27, 2025.
Best Published PA Fishing or Boating Photograph Award
Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
• Winner: “The Family River” by Marshall Nych, published in the Record Argus, Greenville, July 5, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Grandpa Takes Them Fishing” by Jerry Bush, published in PA Outdoor News, March 9, 2025.
Don Heckman – Tell the Story Award
Sponsored by PA Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation
• Winner: “King Caller: The Greatest Turkey Caller on the Planet Reveals All” by Joseph Faux, published in Game and Fish Magazine, March 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Take Your Time With Gobblers” by Charlie Burchfield, published in the Daily Press, St. Mary’s, PA, May 16, 2025.
Handloading Promotion for Broadcast Media Award
Sponsored by Redding Reloading
• Winner: “Handloading for Competition Shooting” by Alex & JoAnne Zidock, broadcast on Out in the Open TV, December 4, 2025.
Handloading Promotion for Electronic Media Award
Sponsored by Redding Reloading
• Winner: “Hand-Crafted Accuracy” by Charlie Burchfield, published in the Tri-County Weekend (online edition), DuBois, July 5, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Low pressure loads for that vintage SxS” by Dave Bates, published in the Observer-Reporter (online edition), Washington, PA, October 5, 2025.
Handloading Promotion for Print Media Award
Sponsored by Redding Reloading
• Winner: “Handloading: Crafting perfection” by Wade Robertson, published in the Olean Times Herald Weekend, November 15, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Hand-Crafted Accuracy” by Charlie Burchfield, published in the Tri-County Weekend, DuBois, July 5, 2025.
Outdoor Blog Award
Sponsored by POWA EIC Entries
• Winner: “There’s determination, dignity that still shine through in a dog’s last hunt” by Tyler Frantz, published online at PA Outdoor News, October 22, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Charlie Fox’s Dream: A Legacy Lives on at Cove Environmental Education Center” by Don Knaus, published online at Mountain Home Magazine, April 1, 2025.
Trout and the Coldwater Resource Award
Sponsored by Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited
• Winner: Latest Little J trout survey results released” by Mark Nale, published in the Daily Herald, Tyrone, January 25, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Opposition to Freeman Run stocking experiment overblown” by Mark Nale, published in the Daily Herald, Tyrone, September 27, 2025.
Dave Wolf White-Tailed Deer Award
Sponsored by Karen Wolf
• Winner: “Going Strong: The Story of the Century” by Bob Frye, published in Pennsylvania Game News, February 2025
• Runner-Up: “Full Freezer: Restocking an Empty Nest” by Brian Kightlinger, published in Pennsylvania Game News, December 2025.
Wildlife Art Award
Sponsored by Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
• Winner: “Blindsided” – Pintails by Gerry Putt
• Runner-Up: “Marsh Jewels” – Green-winged Teal by Michael Kensinger
Young Tree Habitat Award
Sponsored by Upland Bird Hunt Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society
• Winner: “Having Early-Successional Forest Guarantees a Great October” by Joseph Faux, published in the Sullivan Review, Dushore, PA, October 15, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “The Hunted” by Timothy Flanigan, published in Covers Magazine, Spring 2025.
Youth Fishing Award
Sponsored by USA International Sportsmen’s Show and Outdoor Recreation & Travel
• Winner: “The Family River” by Marshall Nych, published in the Record Argus, Greenville, July 5, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Fishing Buddies and First Trout” by Marshall Nych, published in the Record Argus, Greenville, April 5, 2025.
Youth and the Hunting/Shooting Sports Award
Sponsored by POWA EIC Entries
• Winner: “Pass the torch with these tips for developing young, mentored hunters for invaluable reward” by Tyler Frantz, published in the Pottsville Republican-Herald, April 20, 2025 .
• Runner-Up: “Don’t Blink: time goes faster than you think” by Brian Kightlinger, published in Pennsylvania Game News, March 2025.
Archery Award
Sponsored by United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania
• Winner: “The ‘must do’s’ after an archery shot” by Wade Robertson, published in the Olean Times Herald Weekend, October 4, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Drawing on the past: Pennsylvania archer enjoys challenge of making and using primitive gear” by Brian Whipkey, published in the Erie Times News, October 19, 2025.
Humor Award
Sponsored by POWA EIC Entries
• Winner: “Bear joke backfires into big surprise” by Wade Robertson, published in the Bradford PA Era, August 7, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “Big Game Gamers” by Marshall Nych, published in the Record Argus, Greenville, December 20, 2025.
Military and Veterans Award
Sponsored by Anonymous Donor
• Winner: “Hunting and Healing: Potter County’s LEEK helps Veterans” by Paula Piatt, published in Mountain Home Magazine, November 2025
• Runner-Up: “Hunter’s Maine moose tag sails away, but disabled vet receives opportunity” by Doyle Dietz, published in the Pottsville Republican Herald, August 17, 2025.
Boating Safety Award
Sponsored by Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
• Winner: “Rough Seas: a floundering start to the saltwater season” by Tom Tatum, published in the Daily Local, West Chester, May 7, 2025.
• Runner-Up: “PFBC investigated 25 boating incidents so far this year” by Brian Whipkey, published in the Erie Times News, October 10, 2025.
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