29 JUNE 2012

Today, the "First Day of Sale" ceremony took place at the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World at Hampton, Virginia. Both the Federal Duck Stamp (Officially called the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp) and the Junior Duck Stamp had their debut at this event.

Jerome Ford, Assistant Director for Migratory Birds for the USFWS served as MC for the ceremony, an event that saw about 200 people gather for the debut of the Stamps. The gathering was welcomed by George Wallace, Vice Mayor for the City of Hampton. Speakers included Martin MacDonald, Director of Conservation for Bass Pro Shops, Bob Duncan from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Wendi Weber, Regional Director for the Northeast Region of the USFWS, and Dan Ashe, Director of the USFWS.

Many mentioned the extraordinary contribution of the Federal Duck Stamp, collecting over $750 million dollars over the decades and securing over 5.3 million acres of valuable wetland and grassland habitat. The 20th anniversary of the Junior Duck Stamp was also a theme which was highlighted by more than one speaker during the ceremony.

Regional Director Wendi Weber made a special notice of the Federal Duck Stamp's impact on Virginia conservation and the fact that the Stamp had contributed to securing 20% of the state's National Wildlife Refuge property, a considerable percentage.

Dan Ashe, the Director for the USFWS, also went on to emphasize the evolution of the Stamp, from a hunting stamp to a great conservation program. He spoke about the importance of increasing the price of the Stamp, to correspond with inflation and the cost of living – and the cost of land – since the early 1990s. The 5.3 million acres was touted, but Ashe said it was "not enough," especially considering the crisis in the northern great plains, where the prairies and the potholes are under extreme duress, and pointing to a situation where the Stamp is needed "more than ever."

Both Stamp artists were introduced, Joe Hautman, winner of the 2012-2013 Federal Duck Stamp Contest, and Christine Clayton, winner of the corresponding Junior Duck Stamp Contest. They both spoke on the importance of the Stamp program and their commitment to the effort, both for art and for conservation.