POWA’s conference spanned three days and included a field trip to the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, along with a banquet on Saturday where 30 Excellence in Craft awards were presented.
Excellence in Craft Awards
POWA’s Annual Excellence in Craft Awards were announced to an audience of approximately 80 guests.
Winners were presented with plaques and award checks. Runners up were presented with a certificate.
POWA is proud to have been able to continue its tradition of a robust awards program for its members.
This year’s award winners are--
Best Newspaper Column Award. Sponsored by Bob & Linda Steiner.
-- Winner – Marshall Nych, “Buzzer Beaters” Published in the Record Argus, Greenville, September 20, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Marshall Nych, “The Family River” Published in the Record Argus, Greenville, July 5, 2025.
Best Newspaper Feature Award. Sponsored by Pennsylvania Hunters Sharing the Harvest
-- Winner – Wade Robertson, “Life is an endless series of stories” Published in the Olean Times Herald Weekend, October 18, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Ben Moyer, “Mussel therapy: Efforts underway to restore mussels in Dunkard Creek” Published in the Herald Standard, Uniontown, June 1, 2025.
Best Magazine or Regional Newspaper Column Award. Sponsored by POWA EIC Entries
-- Winner – Tyler Frantz, “Old New Borrowed & Blue” Published in Pennsylvania Game News, November 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Marshall Nych, “Beautifully Beside: a Destination to Treasure” Published in Pennsylvania Game News, September 2025.
Best Magazine or Regional Newspaper Feature Award. Sponsored by PA Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists
-- Winner – Timothy Flanigan, “An Upland Lifestyle” Published in Covers Magazine, Winter 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Bob Frye, “Keep Hunting: A Sportsman Gets His Wish” Published in Pennsylvania Game News, January 2025.
Best Published Newspaper Photo Award. Sponsored by POWA Past Presidents
-- Winner – Tom Tatum, “Keeping Track, Baltimore Oriole” Published in the Reading Eagle, December 23, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Tyler Frantz, “A Boatload of Fun” Published in PA Outdoor News, December 21, 2025.
Best Published Magazine Photo Award. Sponsored by POWA EIC Entries
-- Winner – Linda Stager, “Catch of the Day” Published in Mountain Home Magazine, April 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Timothy Flanigan, “Black Birch Grouse” Published in Covers Magazine, Winter 2025.
Lantz Hoffman Broadcast Media Award. Sponsored by Karen Wolf
-- Winner – Christian Alexandersen, “Under the surface of the Keystone State with geologist Russel Losco” Broadcast on the Hemlocks to Hellbenders podcast, October 22, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Christian Alexandersen, “Here’s how Pennsylvania fights 2,000 wildfires every year” Broadcast on the Hemlocks to Hellbenders podcast, June 4, 2025.
Best Published Art Award. Sponsored by POWA EIC Entries
-- Winner – Jerry Putt, “Winter Wapiti” Published in Pennsylvania Game News, January 2025.
-- Runner-Up #1 (Tie by Judges) – Ken Hunter, “Three Bucks” Published in Pennsylvania Game News, December 2025.
-- Runner-Up #2 (Tie by Judges) - Michael Kensinger, “Keystone Currents” Published in Pennsylvania Angler & Boater, July/August 2025.
POWA Pass It On Award. Sponsored by PA Environment Digest
-- Winner – Lilace Guignard, “Judging Distance” Published in Rivers, Ridges, and Valleys: Essays on Rural PA, edited by Jerry Wemple and Anne Dyer Stuart, Catamont Press, February 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Marshall Nych, “Beautifully Beside: a Destination to Treasure” Published in Pennsylvania Game News, September 2025.
Wildlife Conservation Partnership Award. Sponsored by the Game Commission
-- Winner – Linda Stager, “Getting Kids Excited about Fishing and Conservation” Published in Pennsylvania Angler & Boater, January/February 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Bob Frye, “Perfect Fit: Grouse Hunters Help Solve Puzzle” Published in Pennsylvania Game News, September 2025.
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Raptor Conservation & Eco-Tourism Award. Sponsored by Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
-- Winner – Doyle Dietz, “Nature Camps open world of discovery to young students” Published in the Pottsville Republican Herald, March 2, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Marshall Nych, “Dungeons, Dragons, and Duck Hawks” Published in the Record Argus, Greenville, January 4, 2025.
Pennsylvania Elk Resource Award. Sponsored by Keystone Elk Country Alliance
-- Winner – Brian Whipkey, “Patience & Persistence: Teen become youngest Pennsylvania female archer to get bull elk” Published in the Daily American, Somerset, September 27, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Bob Frye, “Remarkable Recovery and a Breath of Fresh Air” Published in Pennsylvania Game News, February 2025`.
Best Action Hunting, Trapping, or Fishing Photograph Award. Sponsored by POWA EIC Entries
-- Winner – Linda Stager, “Getting Kids Excited” Published in Pennsylvania Angler & Boater, January/February 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Timothy Flanigan, “Woodcock Flush” Published in Covers Magazine, Spring 2025.
Best Conference Related Material Award. Sponsored by Visit Erie
-- Winner – Marshall Nych, “A Relentless Pursuit” Published in the Record Argus, Greenville, June 7, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Tom Tatum, “Taking the pulse of a walleye wonderland” Published in the Daily Local, West Chester, May 27, 2025.
Best Published PA Fishing or Boating Photograph Award. Sponsored by the Fish & Boat Commission
-- Winner – Marshall Nych, “The Family River” Published in the Record Argus, Greenville, July 5, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Jerry Bush, “Grandpa Takes Them Fishing” 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 – Joe Faux, “King Caller: The Greatest Turkey Caller on the Planet Reveals All” Published in Game and Fish Magazine, March 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Charlie Burchfield, “Take Your Time With Gobblers” Published in the Daily Press, St. Mary’s, PA, May 16, 2025.
Handloading Promotion for Broadcast Media Award. Sponsored by Redding Reloading
-- Winner – Alex & JoAnne Zidock, “Handloading for Competition Shooting” Broadcast on Out in the Open TV, December 4, 2025.
Handloading Promotion for Electronic Media Award. Sponsored by Redding Reloading
-- Winner – Charlie Burchfield, “Hand-Crafted Accuracy” Published in the Tri-County Weekend (online edition), DuBois, July 5, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Dave Bates, “Low pressure loads for that vintage SxS” Published in the Observer-Reporter (online edition), Washington, PA, October 5, 2025.
Handloading Promotion for Print Media Award. Sponsored by Redding Reloading
-- Winner – Wade Robertson, “Handloading: Crafting perfection” Published in the Olean Times Herald Weekend, November 15, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Charlie Burchfield, “Hand-Crafted Accuracy” Published in the Tri-County Weekend, DuBois, July 5, 2025.
Outdoor Blog Award. Sponsored by POWA EIC Entries.
-- Winner – Tyler Frantz, “There’s determination, dignity that still shine through in a dog’s last hunt” Published online at PA Outdoor News, October 22, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Don Knaus, “Charlie Fox’s Dream: A Legacy Lives On at Cove Environmental Education Center” Published online at Mountain Home Magazine, April 1, 2025.
Trout and the Coldwater Resource Award. Sponsored by PA Council of Trout Unlimited
-- Winner – Mark Nale, “Latest Little J trout survey results released” Published in the Daily Herald, Tyrone, January 25, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Mark Nale, “Opposition to Freeman Run stocking experiment overblown” Published in the Daily Herald, Tyrone, September 27, 2025.
Dave Wolf White-Tailed Deer Award. Sponsored by Karen Wolf
-- Winner – Bob Frye, “Going Strong: The Story of the Century” Published in Pennsylvania Game News, February 2025
-- Runner-Up – Brian Kightlinger, “Full Freezer” Published in Pennsylvania Game News, December 2025.
Wildlife Art Award. Sponsored by Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
-- Winner – Gerry Putt, “Blindsided” - Pintails
-- Runner-Up – Michael Kensinger, “Marsh Jewels” – Green-winged Teal
Young Tree Habitat Award. Sponsored by Upland Bird Hunt Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society
-- Winner – Joseph Faux. “Having Early-Successional Forest Guarantees a Great October” Published in the Sullivan Review, Dushore, PA, October 15, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Timothy Flanigan, “The Hunted” Published in Covers Magazine, Spring 2025.
Youth Fishing Award. Sponsored by USA International Sportsmen’s Show and Outdoor Recreation & Travel
-- Winner – Marshall Nych, “The Family River” Published in the Record Argus, Greenville, July 5, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Marshall Nych, “Fishing Buddies and First Trout” Published in the Record Argus, Greenville, April 5, 2025.
Youth and the Hunting/Shooting Sports Award. Sponsored by POWA EIC Entries
-- Winner – Tyler Frantz, “Pass the torch with these tips for developing young, mentored hunters for invaluable reward” Published in the Pottsville Republican-Herald, April 20, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Brian Kightlinger, “Don’t Blink: time goes faster than you think” Published in Pennsylvania Game News, March 2025.
Archery Award. Sponsored by United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania
-- Winner – Wade Robertson, “The ‘must do’s’ after an archery shot” Published in the Olean Times Herald Weekend, October 4, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Brian Whipkey, “Drawing on the past: Pennsylvania archer enjoys challenge of making and using primitive gear” Published in the Erie Times News, October 19, 2025.
Humor Award. Sponsored by POWA EIC Entries
-- Winner – Wade Robertson, “Bear joke backfires into big surprise” Published in the Bradford PA Era, August 7, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Marshall Nych, “Big Game Gamers” Published in the Record Argus, Greenville, December 20, 2025.
Military and Veterans Award. Sponsored by Anonymous Donor
-- Winner – Paula Piatt, “Hunting and Healing: Potter County’s LEEK helps Veterans” Published in Mountain Home Magazine, November 2025
-- Runner-Up – Doyle Dietz, “Hunter’s Maine moose tag sails away, but disabled vet receives opportunity” Published in the Pottsville Republican Herald, August 17, 2025.
Boating Safety Award. Sponsored by Fish & Boat Commission
-- Winner – Tom Tatum, “Rough Seas: a floundering start to the saltwater season” Published in the Daily Local, West Chester, May 7, 2025.
-- Runner-Up – Brian Whipkey, “PFBC investigated 25 boating incidents so far this year” Published in the Erie Times News, October 10, 2025.
Conference Highlights
This year’s conference featured --
-- Speaker: Robert Caccese, Director of Policy, Planning and Communications Fish and Boat Commission
-- Activities made possible by Susquehanna Outfitters, The Bird Guy Tours, Capital City BassMasters, and Senator Yaw’s staff.
-- Field trip to The Ned Smith Center for Nature & Art.
-- Speakers: Steve Smith, PA Game Commission Executive Director & Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of DCNR, and presentations by Ned Smith Center staff.
-- Craft improvement presentations included a photography presentation by Joe and MaryAnn McDonald of McDonald Wildlife Photography and a session on conducting professional interviews by Lilace Guignard, Alex Zidock, Christian Alexandersen, & Jeff Mulhollem.
Newsmaker presentations by Mayfly Project representative, David Bernhardt, ‘A History of Nessmuk’ presented by Jimmy Guignard and Chris Espenshade, and a welcome address from Aaron Jumper of Visit Cumberland Valley, sponsor of POWA’s lunch and bus transportation.
The presentations were followed by an evening awards banquet sponsored by National Shooting Sports Foundation.
They look forward to our conference next year in Fayette County.
The Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association has a long standing tradition of promoting professional communications about the outdoors.
POWA’s mission is to enhance the skills of its members, provide a strong and resounding conservation message to the public, hold its membership to the highest ethical standards and provide a legacy for future generations of outdoor communicators.
They welcome new members and look forward to the year ahead of wonderful opportunities for our members along with exceptional outdoor writing and communications.
[Posted: May 27, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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