2026 Judges

 Ashley is a 5x World Champion and 2x World Best of Show Winner. He said the  desire to learn and grow as a taxidermist has pushed him to attend seminars and compete at many State,  National, and World taxidermy shows. With 28 years of competing and over 20 years of full time taxidermy experience Ashley has learned how to run a successful taxidermy studio specializing in large lifesize mammals. Ashley looks forward to sharing some of the techniques and tricks he has learned along the way.  

  Hello, my name is Gary Weir. I live in Montrose Colorado. I'm honored to be your whitetail judge for your 2026 convention. Growing up in Texas, some of my best memories were hunting deer with my father. I'm looking forward to judging your pieces, and giving critiques. Hopefully I can shed some knowledge of the species, I love so much. I've heard so much about your association, and have met several of your members. My wife and I, are looking forward to this great convention. A few of my achievements are two time national champion with deer, closed mouth and open mouth. 2023 North American Champion and winning the Bruchac Memorial Award. In 2024, I was honored to judge whitetail and the National Show, and the World Show, and several amazing state shows.

Introducing the 2026 Fish/Reptile Judge JOSH KELLY from Texas!!!

From Josh: From a very young age, I was immersed in the world of taxidermy. My father, Ron Kelly, and my mother, Bev Croy, are both accomplished taxidermists with decades of experience in the field. As a child, I often sat on my father's lap, learning to paint cardboard fish with an airbrush. I spent countless hours in his studio, admiring the mounted wildlife and developing a deep appreciation for the art of taxidermy.

My father is renowned not only for his expertise in mammal and bird taxidermy but especially for his mastery in fish taxidermy. He was exceptionally versatile, capable of mounting any specimen with precision and artistry. He possessed a profound passion for his craft and is now retired, enjoying a well-deserved life of leisure.

My mother, Beverly Croy, works alongside me in Emory, Texas, as a skilled bird taxidermist and fish replica supplier. In the 1990s, my parents were among the pioneers of the fish replica industry. They learned the technique of molding real fish specimens from an expert who had worked at Disney Studios in Florida. Our family was at the forefront of this emerging field when replicas first gained prominence in the early 1990s. Today, replicas have become the industry standard, and they are my primary focus—I specialize exclusively in replica work rather than skin mounts.

I began working seriously in the shop at age 12, performing various tasks for $3 an hour. My father soon entrusted me with a Dremel tool, and for several years I served as his primary assistant for sanding and sculpting while mastering the airbrush. By age 16, I was painting fish independently, and by 18, my father helped me establish my own business, providing me with a name, clientele, and the simple directive: keep the clients satisfied.

Since then, I have built a successful career as a fish taxidermist. I have completed wholesale work for more than 100 taxidermists across Texas, and my replicas can be found throughout North America, South America, and even Africa.

My competitive achievements include five Texas state championships, a national championship, a North American championship, and the third-highest scoring piece at the World Taxidermy Championships. Winning a world title remains one of my primary goals.

At my core, I am a fish artist and a perfectionist dedicated to my craft. I am also a proud family man, with a 25-year-old daughter named Madison, sons Matthew (22), Mason (20), and Vincent (8), a 14-year-old daughter named Layla, and three grandchildren: Jarrett, River, and Lakin.

I find great fulfillment in this profession, transforming the natural world around us into lasting works of beauty. This is my first time judging a competition independently, but I bring extensive expertise, honesty, and fairness to the role—values my father instilled in me throughout my career.

I am deeply honored to have been invited as your guest judge for the fish and reptile categories. I am here to provide thoughtful critiques, answer any questions, and offer guidance. Regardless of a piece's score, I will explain my reasoning in detail and suggest clear next steps for improvement. I am an open book—please feel free to approach me with any inquiries.

Thank you for this opportunity. I look forward to meeting each of you and contributing to a successful show.

he 2026 Bird judge is Sam Cahoy of South Dakota. 

I live in Aberdeen, South Dakota with my wife and our four children. We enjoy hunting and fishing as a family. Neither of my parents hunted, but a familiy friend introduced me to the outdoors and hunting as a young teenager in 1998. Waterfowl hunting soon becamse my passion, which led to my interest in taxidermy. While in high school I watched videos, read books, and then tackled my first taxidermy project-a blue-winged teal. At the time I considered this project a masterpiece. I still have this piece and it serves as a humble reminder of my beginning as a taxidermist. 

After high school I earned my undergraduate and graduate degreees in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from South Dakota State University. As a college student, I continued to dabble in taxidermy and realized how much I enjoyed it, but also how much I had yet to learn. I then atended a two week class on birds and a one week class on fish with Northwest Iowa School of Taxidermy. I also took a two week mammal class through the Advanced Taxidermy Training Center. In 2007, I started my business Showpiece Taxidermy, where I worked part-time for eight years. In 2015, I began to run my business full time. I offer all types of taxidermy services: birds, mammals, fish and reptiles. 

My first taxidermy competition was South Dakota Taxidermist Convention in 2009, where I entered a Northern Shoveler. I greatly enjoy the competition experience which provides the opportunity to learn and improve my taxidermy skills and techniques. Competitions also encourage friendships with other taxidermist from around the country. Since then I have competed in many taxidermy competitions, including state, national and world shows. Throughout my competition career I have been honored to have won many prestigious awards. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to judge birds at this year;s show. I look forward to seeing everyone there. 

The 2026 Habitat judge is Tonya Lamb of Kansas.

Tonya is a lifelong resident of Western Kansas whose passion for hunting, fine art, and Western history began at an early age. She continues that journey today through collecting taxidermy mounts and relics of the American West, preserving its stories and traditions through art.

Known for her pottery and distinctive Southwest-inspired style, Tonya works across multiple mediums, blending texture, history, and regional influence into her creations. When she’s not in the studio creating, she can be found teaching K–6 art, sharing her knowledge and love of creativity with the next generation.

Tonya was raised in the artistic family of Pat and Charlie Norton, where creativity was a way of life. Her father, Charlie Norton, was a respected Western artist and craftsman whose work and appreciation for Western heritage left a lasting impression on Tonya’s artistic vision. Growing up surrounded by his artwork, tools, and stories of the West helped shape her deep respect for tradition, craftsmanship, and storytelling through art.

Art is truly in her genes, and Tonya enjoys connecting with others through her work while continuing the legacy of creativity and Western influence passed down through her family.