Ward Foundation Inc

10/13/2026

10/13/2026

Preparations are underway for this year's Upper Shore Decoy Show - stay tuned for an updated vendor list in the next few weeks.




the picture is a square version of the poster for the Upper Shore Decoy Show, with an artsy canvasback in the middle. The text says: Upper Shore Decoy Show, Saturday October 17, 2026, Minker Banquet Hall, Perryville, Maryland. Celebrating our 57th year. Hosted by the Upper Bay Museum. Early Bird 8am $10, Show Open 9am - 3pm $5. Food available for purchase from the Perryville Ladies' Auxiliary

10/10/2026

🪵🦆 CARVERS, TAKE A BOW! 👏

The Chesapeake Challenge wouldn't be the Chesapeake Challenge without the talented folks who put countless hours, cuts, chips and probably a few band-aids into creating these amazing birds! 😂

To every carver who entered, traveled, competed, and shared their work:

THANK YOU. 💙

You are helping carry a Chesapeake tradition forward, and we're honored to celebrate your artistry.

Congratulations to all of our competitors! Photos from today coming soon...

Now… who's already thinking about next year's bird? 👀🦆

📸: Chesapeake Challenge © Maryland State Arts Council 2025, MSAC.org

10/10/2026

🦆💙 WHAT A DAY! 💙🦆

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Chesapeake Challenge!

To our incredible carvers…
To our judges…
To our volunteers…
To our sponsors…
To the Crisfield Heritage Festival…
To everyone who stopped by, cheered, asked questions, admired the birds and helped us celebrate…

THANK YOU!

The Chesapeake Challenge is about so much more than ribbons. It's about tradition, artistry, community, and keeping Chesapeake heritage alive.

And you are all a part of that story.

Until the next Challenge… keep carving, keep creating, and keep those Chesapeake traditions flying! 🦆🌊💙

10/10/2026

🦆🌊 GOOD MORNING, CRISFIELD! 🌊🦆

Today's the day!

The Chesapeake Challenge is underway during the Crisfield Heritage Festival!

REGISTRATION STARTS AT 8 AM!!

If you're anywhere near Crisfield today, come on down and join us for a celebration of:

🪵 Decoy carving
🦆 Wildfowl art
🌊 Chesapeake heritage
❤️ Community
🎉 And a whole lot of fun!

Come cheer on the carvers, check out the birds, and enjoy everything the Crisfield Heritage Festival has to offer.

Let's make this a day to remember!

📍 Crisfield, MD
🕗 Registration begins at 8 AM

See you there! 🦆💙

10/09/2026

🦆💙 OUR CHESAPEAKE CHALLENGE FLOCK IS SOMETHING SPECIAL! 💙🦆

A HUGE thank you to ALL of our 2026 Chesapeake Challenge sponsors:

🦆 Maryland State Arts Council
🦆 Maryland Traditions
🦆 Crisfield Heritage Foundation
🦆 Refuge Inn
🦆 Rich Smoker
🦆 Ross Smoker
🦆 DiFebo's Restaurant Group
🦆 Smoker Shop North
🦆 Friends of George R. Root
🦆 Karl & Deb Yankey
🦆 Delmarva University of Making Birds

Your support helps us celebrate the art, history, artistry, and community that make the Chesapeake Challenge so special.

We couldn't do it without you! 💙

Now it's YOUR turn…

📅 October 10, 2026
📍 Crisfield, Maryland
🦆 Chesapeake Challenge + Crisfield Heritage Festival

Come compete. Come watch. Come celebrate. Come make a day of it!

👉 wardfdn.org

10/09/2026

🦆🚨 TOMORROW'S THE DAY! 🚨🦆

The birds are ready.
The carvers are ready.
Crisfield is ready.

ARE YOU?! 👀

Join us TOMORROW, October 10, for the Chesapeake Challenge during the Crisfield Heritage Festival!

Come see incredible decoys, cheer on the carvers, and celebrate the Chesapeake traditions that bring us all together.

📍 Crisfield, Maryland
⏰ Registration begins at 8 AM

Bring a chair. Bring a friend. Bring the family. Bring your Decoy Carving spirit!

We'll see you there! 💙🌊🦆

👉 wardfdn.com

📸: Chesapeake Challenge © Maryland State Arts Council 2025, MSAC.org

10/08/2026

🪵🦆 NOW THAT'S A FLOCK WE LIKE!

A huge Chesapeake Challenge thank-you to Delmarva University of Making Birds!

From learning the craft to sharing the finished bird, the future of decoy carving depends on people willing to teach, learn and pass the tradition along.

Thank you for supporting the Chesapeake Challenge and the incredible community of makers behind it!

Let's keep making birds! 🦆💙

10/08/2026

🚨🦆 CRISFIELD, HERE WE COME! 🦆🚨

The Chesapeake Challenge is almost here!

This Saturday, October 10, we'll be in Crisfield celebrating decoy carving, Chesapeake heritage and the incredible people who keep these traditions alive.

🪵 CARVERS — bring those birds!
👀 SPECTATORS — bring your friends!
📸 PHOTOGRAPHERS — bring your cameras!
🍴 FOOD LOVERS — come hungry! 😂
🌊 EVERYONE — come enjoy Crisfield!

The Chesapeake Challenge is part of the Crisfield Heritage Festival, so there's plenty to see and do.

🦆 Registration begins at 8 AM.

We'll see you in Crisfield!

👉 Details: wardfdn.org

Tag your Chesapeake Challenge crew below! 👇🦆

10/07/2026

🌊🦆 AND TO OUR HOSTS...

A very special THANK YOU to the Crisfield Heritage Foundation for helping make the Chesapeake Challenge part of the Crisfield Heritage Festival!

There's something pretty special about bringing decoy carving back to the community so closely connected to the Ward Brothers and Chesapeake traditions.

We couldn't ask for a better place to celebrate this heritage!

Thank you for welcoming the Chesapeake Challenge to Crisfield! 💙🦆

📸: Chesapeake Challenge © Maryland State Arts Council 2025, MSAC.org

Crisfield Heritage Foundation