NewsChannel 9 contributor Richard Simms was among several writers who took top honors in a recent Southeast outdoor writing competition.
The Outdoor Journalist Education Foundation of America (OJEFA) hosted a reunion of the former Southeastern Outdoor Press Association. OJEFA sponsored an Excellence in Craft competition to celebrate the work of some of the top outdoor writers in the Southeast. Top winners included Jim Mize (South Carolina), Donna Bush (Louisiana), and Simms.
Simms was awarded first place in the People/Action photography category with Chasin’ the Sun. He took a second place writing award in the Fishing category with Charlie’s First Fish and second place in the Flora Photography category with Bracken Fern.
He took a third place in the Social Media category with Bobcat Kittens, along with another third place for Charlie’s First Fish in the Sharon Rushton Award for work about and/or for youth in the outdoors.
Mize took first place in the Fishing Story and Hunting Story categories, as well as the coveted Sharon Rushton Award for work about and/or for youth in the outdoors. His book, The Jon Boat Years, was awarded second place and he won third place in all three photograph categories. Bush took top place honors in the Fauna and Flora Photography categories and the Social Media Post and placed second in two other categories.
Three places were awarded in each of nine categories with a total payout of $7,900, courtesy of OJEFA.
The group explored the beautiful scenery of Fontana including a hike along Hazel Creek and a cooking demonstration at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center by the highly successful Appalachian vlogger and cookbook author Tipper Pressley.
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association sponsored the awards dinner. Founder and CEO of Sporting Activities by Owner (SABO), Justin Neal, addressed attendees Saturday night to discuss his group’s efforts to provide access to outdoors enthusiasts who have difficulty finding places to hunt and fish.
“Access to fertile hunting grounds and productive waters has been a growing issue in our industry and the challenge seems to have intensified in the past decade or so,” Neal said. “Efforts to encourage traditional outdoor activities fall flat if we can’t offer affordable places to go. SABO can help. We work with landowners to provide short-term leasing opportunities for people who either can’t afford annual leases or are new to outdoors adventures. Making it easier to get outdoors is a huge part of our mission.”
The 3-day gathering at Fontana Resort was held, in part, to commemorate what would have been the 60th anniversary of SEOPA’s founding in May of 1964 at the same resort. While much has changed in the 60 years since that first meeting, the kindred spirit of those who enjoy the outdoors and revel in telling its stories remains.
AWARD WINNERS LIST
FISHING STORY
- 1st Place: Fishing Fables by Jim Mize
- 2nd Place: Charlie’s First Fish by Richard Simms
- 3rd Place: What is Your Favorite Wildlife Recipe? By Whit Gibbons
HUNTING STORY
- 1st Place: Cold Cocked by Jim Mize
- 2nd Place: Epitaph for a Turkey Hunter by Jim Spencer
- 3rd Place: The Big Reveal by Tes Jolly
- Honorable Mention: New Hunter Learns to Thrive in the Wild Brent Frazee
- Honorable Mention: Bird Dogs Don’t Lie by Jimmy Jacobs
NON-CONSUMPTIVE
- 1st Place: Corn Snakes Make Colorful Windshield Wipers by Whit Gibbons
- 2nd Place Tie: Southern Girl Meets Northern Lights by Donna Bush
- 2nd Place Tie: Rain, Tin Roofs, and Restfulness by Jim Casada
- 3rd Place: Growing Gobblers by Jill Easton
- Honorable Mention: The Poult Days of Summer by Tes Jolly
PHOTOGRAPHS – FAUNA
- 1st Place: Osprey by Donna Bush
- 2nd Place: Quality Whitetails Cover by Tes Jolly
- 3rd Place: Hidden Hellbender by Jim Mize
PHOTOGRAPHS – FLORA
- 1st Place: Fall Colors by Donna Bush
- 2nd Place: Bracken Fern by Richard Simms
- 3rd Place: Autumn Stream by Jim Mize
PHOTOGRAPHS – PEOPLE/ACTION
- 1st Place: Chasin’ the Sun by Richard Simms
- 2nd Place: Aurora by Donna Bush
- 3rd Place: It’s a Bass by Jim Mize
BOOKS
- 1st Place: Lords of the Veldt & Vlei: Africa’s Pioneer Hunters by Jim Casada
- 2nd Place: The Jon Boat Years by Jim Casada
- 3rd Place: Bad Birds 3: Yet Another Collection of Mostly True Stories … by Jim Spencer
SOCIAL MEDIA
- 1st Place: Southern Girl Meets Northern Lights by Donna Bush
- 2nd Place: Jumping Buck by Tes Jolly
- 3rd Place: Bobcat Kittens by Richard Simms
SHARON RUSTON AWARD
- 1st Place: Squirrel Hunting: The Right Game for Young Hunters by Jim Mize
- 2nd Place: Fisherman Helps Children with Disabilities Cast for Joy by Brent Frazee
- 3rd Place: Charlie’s First Fish by Richard Simms
For more information:
Outdoor Journalist Education foundation of America
