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Matt Welsh - Fish/Reptiles
I was flattered to be asked as one of your judges for the upcoming show, especially considering how many talented folks there are in this crazy trade we call taxidermy. My name is Matt Welsh, and I reside in rural Arcadia, Kansas. My former girlfriend (now wife 😉), Tiffany and I have 3 awesome kids (Owen-17, Eli-14, Lela-9), and are extremely grateful for the life God has blessed us with.
I was born in north central Iowa where I grew up hunting, fishing and trapping anything that ’d let me chase it! I always had a shotgun, bow or fishing rod in my hand. Although I was always intrigued by the art of taxidermy, I never pursued it until I was an adult and started a family. I first learned the basics of a shoulder mount whitetail and continued with that for a couple years. Later I joined the ITA and attended my first show/competition. I entered two whitetail shoulder mounts and scored a 74 and 76 in the professional division. It was all downhill from there! I was hooked and motivated to put out the best version of my work possible. Since that time, I ’ve competed in at least one show almost every year. In the time between then and now, I added LS mammals (don ’t do many now) and fish to my business ’ repertoire. I was working for Pioneer Hybrid in Soybean Trait Integration when I decided to make the leap to full-time taxidermy. I operated my business for many years in Iowa before moving to southeast Kansas a few years ago, where I currently reside.
I ’ve been blessed to win a few accolades over the years. It took many years of hard work, frustrations and trial & error before I started winning in any category. I ’ve competed heavily in whitetails and fish reproductions over the years. In 2022 I attended my first world show and was blown away when awarded a Silver Medallion-Second in World with a Largemouth Bass replica. I ’ve also been fortunate enough to take home a couple Breakthrough Best of Shows, a couple Woody/Best of Show runners-up and many State champions from multiple states and categories. However, none of that holds a candle to my identity in Christ-Jesus. After all, He ’s the reason any of us are here and get to do what we do during our short time on Earth! Thanks for having me, and I hope I can add some value to your show attendees!
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Mike Nakielski - Birds
Mike Nakielski, taxidermist and judge, first became immersed in the art of taxidermy at age 10, when his father helped him mount a goose. Since then, his passion for both hunting and taxidermy grew, and so did his dedication for sharing his talent with others, including taxidermists newer to the field. Mike has carried his father’s original establishment forward into what is now known as Pro Taxidermy—a business rooted in tradition, precision, and a deep respect for the outdoors.
Over the years, his work has been recognized at the highest levels in the industry. Mike first started competing in 1995 at age 14 and has competed every year since then. He has received multiple honors such as State, National, International, and World titles. He is also a sculptor for Ohio Taxidermy Supply. These acknowledgments reflect not just his skill, but his lifelong dedication to the craft. Mike is especially well-known for his bird mounts, where attention to detail, lifelike presentation, and artistic composition set his work apart.
Today, Pro Taxidermy operates from his home in Iron Ridge, Wisconsin, where Mike lives with his wife, Jen, and two children, Michael and Jocelyn.
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