Nov. 9 - Waterfowl Festival Officials - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

Nov. 9 - Waterfowl Festival Officials

EASTON, Md. - Founded in 2011, Waterfowl Chesapeake Inc. will take on and expand the waterfowl conservation work previously supported by the Waterfowl Festival, thereby allowing the Festival organization to concentrate its efforts on maintaining a successful event that will fund future projects.

The mission of Waterfowl Chesapeake Inc. is to create, restore and conserve waterfowl habitat throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and nearby coastal bays by engaging in collaborative, strategic initiatives with organizations, governments, corporations, foundations and individuals. Waterfowl Chesapeake is exclusively dedicated to raising support for and engaging in conservation efforts and is the primary beneficiary of the annual Waterfowl Festival.

The Waterfowl Festival contributes the proceeds of each annual event to Waterfowl Chesapeake - the Festival's sister organization that focuses exclusively on supporting conservation work around the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  Founded in 2011, Waterfowl Chesapeake builds on the conservation tradition of the Waterfowl Festival, which has granted more than $5 million to over fifty national and regional conservation organizations and their projects.

The Festival provides an environment for artisans to gather, exhibit and sell their work. More than 300 nationally recognized artists are invited to participate, exhibiting paintings, sculpture, carvings, photography, decoys, crafts and folk art. The public is provided with the opportunity to view and purchase the finest wildlife art available in the world.

Autumn is the most spectacular time of year for the Eastern Shore and the Waterfowl Festival in historic Easton shows it off at its best. Thousands of geese fly overhead while thousands of visitors stroll the streets. Local hunting traditions and sportsmen's goods and gear are highlighted in addition to the wildlife art, with the World Championship Goose Calling Contest, the Mason-Dixon Regional Duck Calling Contest and Delmarva Dock Dogs® Competition taking place as well as retriever demonstrations, wine tasting pavilion, kids activities and much more.

18,000 to 20,000 visitors from throughout the U.S. and other countries attend each year. Art collectors looking for the best in wildlife art, hunting enthusiasts celebrating their traditions and skills, families looking for a weekend getaway, and shoppers seeking the perfect holiday gifts all find something to enjoy at the Waterfowl Festival.

More than 1,500 volunteers offer their time and services to stage each year's Festival. More than 60 committees work year-round to organize the events at 12 exhibit locations throughout the town of Easton. A small staff and an eighteen-member volunteer Board of Directors coordinate these efforts.