Artists, Conservationists and Friends
Perhaps the two most significant artists in the history of the Federal Duck Stamp Program were Ding Darling and Maynard Reece. The two duck stamp artists, hunters and Iowans seemed destined to become close friends.
As a hunter, Reece knew what duck stamps were, but he found out about the Federal Duck Stamp Design Contest from Darling. Darling critiqued the aspiring wildlife artist's paintings and offered advice. Reece improved to the level where Darling felt he could not longer teach him. "He was wrong," Reece said. "He helped me until the day he died."
