Blue Ribbons Awarded to Winners of Delaware Waterfowl and Trout Stamp Art Competitions

Graphic with the two winning paintings, the left of a rainbow trout by George Bradford of Georgetown, Del. and the right of two golden ducks by Jonathan Milo of Monroe, Conn. The text on the image reads, "2027-28 Delaware Waterfowl and 2027 Trout Stamp Winners"

The winning artwork by George Bradford (trout stamp contest) and Jonathan Milo (waterfowl contest) will be featured on next season’s
stamps, which raise funds for waterfowl conservation efforts and supporting trout stocking across the state /Delaware DNREC Graphic

Trout Competition Won for a Sixth Time by Delaware Artist Who Got First Blue Ribbon 27 Years Ago

Jonathan Milo of Monroe, Conn. and in-state artist George Bradford of Georgetown have claimed blue ribbons respectively in Delaware’s annual Waterfowl Stamp and Trout Stamp art contests, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. Milo’s painting of a goldeneye duck will be featured on the 2027-28 Delaware Waterfowl Stamp. A painting of a rainbow trout by Bradford was awarded first place and will grace the 2027 Delaware Trout Stamp.

“The artistic talent exhibited today made both stamp contests extremely competitive,” DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Pat Emory said after the competition. “The breadth of experience and perspectives in the artwork DNREC receives for the contests is always impressive, whether they’re coming from a federal duck stamp winner or an artist entering their first state competition. Which is to say we encourage artists of all skill levels whose work reflects these sporting and wildlife interests to keep ‘em coming.”

The annual stamp art competition drew 13 entries for the 2027-28 Delaware Waterfowl Stamp and eight entries for 2027 state trout stamp. The waterfowl stamp contest specified that artwork must include the motif of a goldeneye duck in the Delaware Bay. Delaware Trout Stamp contest entries could depict a rainbow, brook or brown trout.

As the 2027-28 Delaware Waterfowl Stamp contest winner, Milo receives a $2,500 cash prize and 150 artist’s proofs of the limited-edition print series of his first-place entry. The Connecticut native, a longtime professional illustrator and artist, specializes in wildlife and outdoor sporting art, with an emphasis on painting fish and fishing subjects. His work has been featured in Outdoor Life, Sporting Classics, Gray’s Sporting Journal and American Angler magazine.

As the 2027 Delaware Trout Stamp winner, Bradford receives a $250 cash prize and retains the rights to reproduce and sell prints of the stamp artwork. Bradford first entered both the Delaware trout and waterfowl stamp contests in 1993. While he has previously placed in the waterfowl stamp competition, including second place in 2021, he has fared far better in the trout stamp contest, placing among recognized entries seven times, including just missing the blue ribbon the last two years before winning his sixth career Delaware trout stamp competition this year. Bradford loves to paint all wildlife as well as landscapes.

Other artists recognized in this year’s Delaware contests were:

2027-28 Waterfowl Stamp

Second place: Ryan Kniss, Johnstown, Pa.
Third place: Caleb Metrich, Lake Tomahawk, Wisc.
Honorable mentions: Richard Clifton, Milford , Del.; Jeffrey Klinefelter, Etna Green, Ind.; Matthew Higgins, Kersey, Pa.

2027 Trout Stamp

Second place: Christopher White, Port Deposit, Md.
Third place: Trevor Dumaw, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Honorable mentions: Jeffrey Klinefelter, Etna Green, Ind.; Christopher White, Port Deposit, Md; JB Basham, North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Artwork in each contest was judged by a different set of five judges, with each judge separately evaluating and scoring the respective contest artwork in person. As always, the judges brought a variety of interests and expertise to both contests.

For the Waterfowl Stamp contest, judges were:

Elio Battista, member of the Advisory Council on Wildlife and Freshwater Fish
Jessica Paoletti, DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife biologist
Drew Clendaniel, Delaware waterfowler and stamp collector
Heather Swyka, Delaware artist
Keith Windsor, state chair for the Ducks Unlimited Delaware chapter

Judging the trout stamp competition were:

Ed O’Connell and Sam Palermo, White Clay Fly Fishers Club members
Garry Grier, member of the State Advisory Council on Wildlife and Freshwater Fish
Roberta Tucci, retired Delaware State University art professor
Steven Luell, DNREC Fisheries Section Environmental Scientist

The winning 2027-28 Delaware Waterfowl Stamp will be available for purchase July 1, 2027, with the winning 2027 Delaware Trout Stamp available for purchase Jan. 1, 2027.

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, started the Delaware Waterfowl Stamp and print program in 1980 to raise funds for waterfowl conservation, including acquiring and improving wetland habitats vital to the survival of migratory waterfowl. To date, more than $4.2 million has been raised. A Delaware waterfowl stamp and hunting license are required for most waterfowl hunters.

Delaware began requiring trout stamps for anglers in the 1950s, and a Delaware Trout Stamp and a general fishing license are required for most anglers to fish in designated trout waters during certain seasons. Funds from the sale of these stamps are used to purchase trout to stock in select streams in northern New Castle County and in two downstate ponds.

More information about Delaware’s Waterfowl Stamp contest can be found on the de.gov/waterfowlstamp webpage. For more information about the Trout Stamp contest visit the de.gov/troutstamp webpage.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on more than 75,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X or LinkedIn.

Media contacts: Alyssa Imprescia, alyssa.imprescia@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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