2024 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Honoring those who have shaped excellence…
Whether it’s the dedicated 20-year club secretary, the breeder who has provided countless people with their start, or the mentor who has freely shared time and knowledge, this award honors those whose efforts have strengthened and inspired our community.
Living Honorees
Bill Wulff
A Lifetime of Dedication to the Fancy
From Connersville, Indiana, Bill has devoted more than 60 years to the exhibition poultry hobby, leaving a legacy defined by service, generosity, and an unwavering love for the fancy. Best known as the owner and operator of Poultry Press, he has not only chronicled the history and progress of the community but also played an active role in sustaining it. His work has ensured that the voices, achievements, and milestones of fanciers across the nation have been celebrated and preserved.
Bill’s contributions extend far beyond publishing. At shows, he is a constant presence, always willing to lend a hand with every aspect of preparation and execution. From setup and hanging tags to tear down at the end of long weekends, Bill demonstrates a hands-on dedication that embodies the spirit of true volunteerism. His efforts have helped countless shows succeed, creating opportunities for exhibitors to showcase their birds and connect with others.
Equally notable is Bill’s generosity in sharing both his poultry genetics and his wealth of knowledge. Always approachable and eager to talk poultry, he has supported generations of breeders and exhibitors by offering advice, encouragement, and access to quality birds. This openness reflects a commitment not only to personal success but to the success and growth of the entire hobby.
Bill’s six decades of service stand as a testament to his love for the fancy. Through his leadership, labor, and generosity, he has become a cornerstone of the poultry community, and his impact will continue to resonate for years to come.
Byron “Rip” Stalvey
Mentor, Educator, and Advocate for the Fancy
From Kathleen, Florida, Rip has dedicated more than 50 years to the exhibition poultry hobby, building a reputation as both a respected judge and a generous mentor. Though now retired from his official duties as an APA judge, his commitment to education and mentorship continues to shape the community.
Rip is best known for his tireless efforts to make poultry knowledge accessible to all. Through free educational Facebook groups, instructional videos, and a widely followed podcast, he has created welcoming spaces where newcomers and seasoned breeders alike can learn, ask questions, and share experiences. His teaching style is approachable and practical, always rooted in the belief that knowledge should be shared freely to strengthen the hobby for future generations.
Highly regarded for his kindness and inclusivity, Rip makes every effort to ensure that all who seek guidance feel valued and supported. His willingness to answer questions, provide resources, and connect others with the information they need has made him a trusted figure in the fancy. For many, his mentorship has been the encouragement that kept them engaged and inspired in their poultry journeys.
Rip’s legacy lies not only in the decades he spent judging but in the countless individuals he has welcomed, taught, and mentored. His contributions continue to expand the reach of the fancy, ensuring that the values of education, community, and passion remain at its heart.
C Vic Stirnaman
A Lifetime of Service to the Fancy
From Pekin, Illinois, Vic has devoted more than 50 years to the exhibition poultry hobby, with a life’s work defined by preservation, education, and service. His dedication has touched every aspect of the fancy—breeding, exhibition, judging, and mentoring—making him one of the most respected and trusted figures in the community.
A tireless advocate for breed preservation, Vic has worked diligently to ensure that heritage breeds are maintained to the highest standard. His presence in the showroom has been marked by excellence, both as an exhibitor and as a judge known for fairness, discernment, and integrity. Generations of fanciers have benefited from his knowledge and example, whether through the birds he presented or the guidance he provided.
What distinguishes Vic most is his selflessness. He has consistently gone out of his way to support the hobby and its participants, extending his time, energy, and wisdom to both newcomers and seasoned breeders. His mentorship has inspired confidence, built skills, and strengthened the poultry community, ensuring that its traditions and values continue to thrive.
Vic’s more than five decades of service stand as a testament to his love for the fancy. His legacy will be remembered not only in the birds he raised and the shows he supported but in the countless individuals he encouraged and inspired along the way.
Tom Carey
Mentor, Judge, and Dedicated Leader in the Fancy
From Floral City, Florida, Tom has devoted more than 50 years to the exhibition poultry hobby, serving as a mentor, judge, showman, and tireless supporter of poultry shows. His lifelong dedication has made him a cornerstone of the community, admired for both his leadership and his generosity.
Tom plays an especially active role in the Central Florida Poultry Breeders Club & Show, where his hard work and commitment have ensured the continued success of one of the region’s key events. From organizing and running shows to providing hands-on support wherever needed, Tom exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism and service.
Equally important is his role as a mentor. Tom has supported both juniors and adults by providing access to quality birds and by generously sharing his knowledge and experience. His guidance has inspired confidence and growth in countless exhibitors, many of whom credit their success and passion for the fancy to his encouragement and example.
With over five decades of service, Tom’s legacy is defined by leadership, mentorship, and a deep love for the poultry community. His influence continues to shape the fancy, ensuring that its traditions and values endure for generations to come.
Memorial Honorees
Arthur O. Schilling
Artist, Promoter, and Visionary of the Fancy
With more than 60 years devoted to the poultry hobby, Arthur O. Schilling left an indelible mark on the exhibition world through his artistry, promotion, and dedication. His work stands as the most referenced and recognizable body of poultry illustration, with drawings that continue to shape the standards and ideals of the fancy today.
Best known as the artist behind the iconic illustrations in the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection, Schilling elevated the visual representation of exhibition poultry to a new level. His detailed and accurate artwork not only captured the essence of each breed but also set benchmarks for breeders and judges alike. Generations of fanciers have relied on his drawings as the definitive guide to excellence in poultry.
Beyond his art, Arthur Schilling was a strong promoter of the hobby. His passion for poultry and his vision for the future helped solidify and preserve the standards that remain the foundation of exhibition poultry. By combining his talents as an artist with his dedication as a fancier, he ensured that the hobby would continue to grow and thrive.
Arthur O. Schilling’s contributions endure as a cornerstone of the fancy. His legacy lives on every time a breeder, exhibitor, or judge opens the Standard of Perfection, and his influence will continue to shape the exhibition poultry world for generations to come.
Ben Ricketts
A Lifetime of Dedication to the Fancy
With more than 50 years in the hobby, Ben of Zanesville, Ohio, devoted his life to exhibition poultry through breeding, showing, and judging. Operating a hatchery that produced both utility and exhibition birds, he became a respected name within the poultry community, known for the quality of his flocks and his commitment to the advancement of the fancy.
In his early years, Ben was among the stringmen who traveled from show to show by boxcar, ensuring that birds could be exhibited across the country at a time when the poultry hobby was rapidly expanding. This dedication to exhibiting helped maintain interest in the fancy during a pivotal era, and his efforts left a lasting mark on the culture of poultry showing.
By the 1950s, Ben shifted his focus from exhibiting to judging, quickly rising to become one of the most popular and respected judges in the nation. Exhibitors valued his fairness, integrity, and deep knowledge of the breeds he evaluated. His reputation drew exhibitors from near and far, and his presence at shows became a hallmark of quality and trust.
Ben’s legacy rests not only in his accomplishments as a breeder and exhibitor but also in his transformative role as a judge. His lifelong dedication to the fancy exemplifies the values of service, knowledge, and passion, ensuring his place among the most influential figures in exhibition poultry history.
Eleanor Vinhage
A Legacy of Service to the Fancy
With more than 40 years devoted to the exhibition poultry hobby, Eleanor is remembered as a selfless leader whose contributions were instrumental in advancing the American Bantam Association. Serving for many years as Secretary of the ABA, she guided the organization with dedication, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to its members.
Eleanor’s work was not about personal recognition, but about ensuring the strength and growth of the fancy. She devoted countless hours to supporting exhibitors, strengthening organizational processes, and promoting the interests of the ABA. Her efforts provided stability and continuity, helping the association thrive and remain a cornerstone of the poultry community.
Known for her care and devotion to the betterment of the hobby, Eleanor set an example of service and leadership that continues to inspire. Her legacy lies not only in the years she gave but in the values she embodied—integrity, selflessness, and love for the fancy.
Tommy Stanley
A Giant in the World of Largefowl
For more than 40 years, Tommy Stanley was a defining presence in the exhibition poultry community, remembered not only for his stature and personality but also for his unmatched influence on largefowl breeding. Often compared to Dale Earnhardt in his impact and legacy, he stood as a larger-than-life figure whose contributions shaped the direction of the hobby for decades.
Tommy was best known for breeding and selling quality largefowl, producing birds that set the standard for excellence across the country. His program supplied fanciers nationwide with stock that elevated competition and strengthened the quality of largefowl as a whole. The consistency and volume of top birds he provided was unparalleled, making him one of the most important figures in preserving and promoting these breeds.
His passing left a profound void in the poultry world, particularly for largefowl enthusiasts, who felt the loss of both his birds and his presence. The depth of his influence ensures that his legacy continues, carried forward in the birds he bred and in the generations of fanciers who benefited from his dedication.
Tommy Stanley’s name remains synonymous with excellence in largefowl, and his impact on the fancy endures as one of the most significant of his time.