Breakthrough Magazine Learn Taxidermy Magazine Trade Journal

07/27/2026

UPDATED 2027 CALENDAR:
January 20–23, 2027. Safari Club Int.
The Safari Club International 54th Annual Hunter’s Convention. Music City Center in Nashville, TN. Visit [email protected]. Call (210) 985-HUNT.

February 4–6, 2027 Florida
2027 Florida State Taxidermy Association Convention & Competition. Best Western Gateway Grand, 4200 NW 97th Blvd, Gainesville, Fl 32606 (352) 331-3336. Contact Theresa Durham at (386) 546-7353 or [email protected].

February 15–21, 2027, Salzburg Austria
European Taxidermy Championships
The 15th European Taxidermy Championships take place at the Messezentrum Salzburg, Austria, held alongside the Die Hohe Jagd & Fischerei trade fair (organised by Messezentrum Salzburg).
Contact: Nadine Nußbaummüller, Project Management, [email protected]

February 26–28, 2027 Australia
The Australian Association of Wildlife Artists (AUSAWA) Annual Convention and Competition. The York On Lilydale, Mount Evelyn, in Lilydale, Victoria. Contact the secretary at [email protected].

March 11–13, 2027 Virginia
Virginia Taxidermists Association Annual Convention & Competition. Best Western Inn & Suites. Waynesboro, VA. Contact Amanda Robinson at (276) 275-9879 or [email protected]. Visit Vataxidermists.com.

March 12–14, 2027 North Dakota
North Dakota Taxidermists Association Annual Convention and Competition. Bismarck Hotel & Conference Center in Bismarck, ND. Contact Bill Neuman at (320) 293-5249 or [email protected].

March 18–21, 2027 Iowa
Iowa Taxidermists Association Competition and Show. Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel in Des Moines, IA. Contact Tim Schroeder (president) at (515) 231-7185 or [email protected]. Visit iowataxidermyassociation.com.

March 18–21, 2027 Montana
Montana Taxidermists Association Annual Convention and Competition. Copper King Convention Center, an Ascend Collection Hotel. Butte, Montana. Contact Autumn Evan at (661) 666-3587 or, [email protected]. Visit https://www.mttaxidermistsassociation.com.

March 18–21, 2027 Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State Taxidermy and Wildlife Art Competition, Convention, and Trade Show. Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex, Indiana, PA. Contact John Czerniakowski at (717) 437-5734 or [email protected]. Also visit http://www.pataxidermist.org.

April 1–14, 2027 Minnesota
Minnesota Taxidermy Guild Competition and Convention at Breezy Point Resort in Breezy Point, MN. Contact Nick Hermanson, MTG President at (320) 980-2623 or [email protected]. Visit www.mntaxidermyguild.com.

April 9–11, 2027 Quebec
Quebec Taxidermy Association Annual Convention and Competition. Hotel Le Dauphin in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. Contact President Royal Robillard at (819) 663-7612 or [email protected].

April 13–17, 2027 The World Taxidermy & Fish Carving Championships®
The World Taxidermy & Fish Carving Championships®. Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel and Conference Center. 300 E 9th St., Coralville, IA 52241. Call Breakthrough at 800-783-7266.

April 22–24, 2027 California
California Association of Taxidermists Annual Convention and Competiton. Colusa County Fairgrounds in Colusa, CA. Contact Alan Dowdy at (530) 305-0208 or [email protected].

April 22–25, 2027 New York
United Taxidermists of New York Annual Convention & Competition. Holiday Inn Auburn, NY. Contact President Matt Pigliavento at (518) 557-2636 or [email protected].

June, 2027 Texas
Texas Taxidermists Association Annual Convention and Competition. Abilene, TX. Contact Keeley Busbee-Smith at (830) 377-1359 or [email protected]. Visit texastaxidermyassociationinc.org

June 3–6, 2027 Mississippi
Mississippi State Taxidermy Association Annual Convention and Competition. Historic Whispering Woods Hotel and Conference Center in Olive Branch, MS. Contact Dan Beasley at (601) 259-7826 or [email protected].

June 10–13, 2027 West Virginia
West Virginia Taxidermy Association Convention and Mountain State Championship. Days Inn Conference Center in Flatwoods WV. Contact President David Secrist at [email protected] or phone (304) 919-3960 . Follow West Virginia Taxidermy Association on Facebook.

July 14–17, 2027 NTA
National Taxidermists Association 56th Convention and Competition. Provo Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Provo, UT. Contact C**t Ford, president, at (229) 237-6353 or [email protected].

March 10–12, 2028 North Dakota
North Dakota Taxidermists Association Annual Convention and Competition. Bismarck Hotel & Conference Center in Bismarck, ND. Contact Bill Neuman at (320) 293-5249 or [email protected].

July 19–22, 2028 NTA
National Taxidermists Association 57th Convention and Competition. Embassy Suites by Hilton East Peoria Riverfront Hotel & Conference Center in East Peoria, IL. Contact C**t Ford, president, at (229) 237-6353 or [email protected].

Calendar of Events is furnished at no charge as a service for our subscribers. Before making plans to attend any of these conventions, you should check with the contact person for any changes. Almost every state has an annual taxidermy competition, and the dates for some have not yet been finalized. Send us the following information as soon as the dates and location are approved—a year ahead is not too early. Attendees and supply companies need time to plan to attend. To have an event listed in this calendar, please email (not all caps, please) us your information:• Dates and year• Official name of event• Facility where event takes place• City and state• Contact person’s name, telephone number, and email address.• Event’s website
Send information to [email protected].

07/19/2026

We had a wonderful time at the 55th ANNUAL NTA CONVENTION, COMPETITION, & TRADE SHOW.

Thanks to C**t Ford (President), the board and all involved for the invitation and their hospitality. It was a great show.

07/16/2026

We have 4 jam-packed issues a year. A one-year subscription is $44, and we offer a substantial discount for a 2-year subscription at $78. We are having massive construction on our website/email so the only way to place an order this week is by telephone: 800-783-7266 or 985-345-7266.

07/10/2026

We're upgrading your Breakthrough browsing experience!

Our site is temporarily down while we transition to a new host and iron out a few technical hiccups with our domain.

Thank you for sticking with us—we promise the new site is worth the wait.

07/07/2026

Breakthrough magazine and the World Taxidermy Championships are transitioning to a new system for subscriptions and event management.

Yesterday, during testing, an email may have been sent to our subscribers indicating that they were selected as a judge. Please disregard that message, as it was sent in error.

For those previously contacted by Roy Holdridge regarding judging at the upcoming WTC in 2027, a correct email will follow shortly. Thank you for your patience, and we apologize for any confusion.

PS - I added a picture of a lion I observed at a game preserve in South Africa during a trip in 2024. He was with a young lioness. Hoping that part brightens your day.

Best regards,
Marie

07/01/2026

WORLD SHOW UPDATE
April 13-17, 2027
There ARE rooms available at the Hyatt in Coralville. The WTC room block is active, and the discounted rate is in place.
Plenty of rooms are available but be sure you’re booking through the official Hyatt site at hyatt.com.

Please just do EXACTLY what we say and do not book another way:
https://www.hyatt.com/events/en-US/group-booking/IOWRC/G-TAX8

Some callers using third‑party sites are being told there is no room block but that they should register, pay, and later receive a refund once they get the code. This is NOT true.

Please share this information with other state associations and anyone else who may benefit. The next issue of Breakthrough will include full hotel details.

For people who would rather just use a telephone, call (319) 688-4000. Use this phone number ONLY.

07/01/2026

Breakthrough Subscribers: If you recently renewed your subscription and received an email from [email protected], please disregard it. If you have not yet renewed, you may use the link in that email to complete your renewal. We are currently transitioning systems and updating all records. We apologize for any inconvenience.

06/22/2026

SPRING ISSUE #161:
This issue’s cover features a beautiful Rio Grande turkey mounted by Keith York, owner of Lost Pines Taxidermy in Cedar Creek, Texas. It is a unique color phase and was killed by a customer who sent the turkey’s DNA to the NWTF; it was confirmed as 100 percent Rio Grande. That color phase only shows up in 1 out of every 350,000 Rio Grande turkeys that hatch. At the 2024 WTC Keith’s turkey scored a very respectable 87 in the Master Division. It also won the People’s Choice award at the 2025 Texas (TTAI) show and at an earlier NTA show. In this issue’s Gallery we are featuring many of the Master Division birds that scored high in the various sub-categories. We are also featuring many of the professional division birds at the 2024 World Shows. All categories at the 2024 World Show set recordbreaking entry numbers with some of the finest taxidermy artistry ever seen. The next World Shows will be in Coralville, Iowa, again, Tuesday through Saturday, April 13-17, 2027. You will find additional info in this issue.

06/22/2026