Of the fifty free fish distributed to Princeton area residents, thirty were returned.
Six winners were chosen with the help of Chamber of Commerce Board judges and each received $25 in Chamber Dollars checks (which can be spent at any business that is a Chamber member).
We asked the public to vote for their favorite fish during our Sturgeon Celebration on April 13th, and this ended up being a tie! Rather than split the prize, we were able to scrape up some more Chamber Dollars so each winner received the full amount ($25) and the People's Choice Award.
All told, that's a lot of cash for ugly fish, and we thank the Princeton Chamber immensely for sponsoring such awesome prizes!
Judges Remarks:
Ugliest Sturgeon: Mark Kallas
This turkey sturgeon is not only truly grotesque, but truly made of turkey. From its fanned fanny feathers to its turkey spur fangs and beady black eyes, this gobbler is authentically ugly.
Prettiest Sturgeon: Gail Harter
This pink-and-purple, skirt-wearing, clownish fish reminds one of the character Mimi from the Drew Carey TV Show (1995-2004). It’s “pretty” alright- pretty ugly! Extra points for the fake eyelashes and dayglo accessories.
Foxiest Sturgeon: Renee Cybul
This furry friend is truly a creature of the Fox River. Painted reddish brown and white, and featuring a furry tail, this foxlike fish (or fishlike fox?) has a face only a mother could love, and a texture to die for.
Most Inspirational Sturgeon: Mary Lind
The body of this model has been remodeled to feature a real sturgeon’s ugly hallmarks, including spiny protrusions called scutes, and tentacle-like mouth feelers called barbels. However, it is also covered in lovely quotes from authors, celebrities, and world leaders about the definition of true beauty.
Most Monstrous Sturgeon: Megan Kuhnhausen
This amazingly detailed fish has been remodeled to allow for Chinese dragon features. Its eyes, horns, spiny crest, and flowing whiskers are fantastical!
Kitschiest Sturgeon: Denise Gorsuch
Hundreds of real, tiny shells cover the body of this model, making it the most kitschy fish, as well as the heaviest sturgeon here. This project must have taken hours!
People’s Choice Award: Gail Harter and Megan Kuhnhausen
We invited each attendee to vote for their favorite sturgeon, and we had a tie!
Ugly Sturgeon Contest Honorable Mentions:
The Ice Bowl: Keith and Elizabeth Barzyk
The face of this Packers-themed fish has been remodeled to allow for string barbels with yellow and green beads which sway in a breeze. Its nerdy expression, green cats’ eyes, and shellacked sides are nice, but there’s nothing better (or uglier) than a bad pun! The fish’s side is emblazoned with “FEEL THE #10,” a reference to Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love. A great entry from a great local business.
Sturgeon Lamp: Cathy Eckart
The sturgeon itself is pretty but fairly plain, painted in a shimmery white with a pattern of pearl beads. However, transforming the fish into a table lamp complete with shade is a neat idea. It brings to mind the leg lamp in the 1983 classic movie “A Christmas Story.” Somebody out there with questionable taste or a great sense of humor desperately wants this in their living room window.
Sturgeon Fountain: The Ladwig Family
A rushed execution and a plain fish kept this entry out of the winner’s circle, but the concept is amazing! This family used a Tupperware tote full of water as a base. A small pump connecting the water to the model turned their entry into a working sturgeon fountain. The constant trickle of water from the fish’s mouth is almost musical (and made at least one judge think about using the restroom). A technical triumph.
Children's Sturgeon
We appreciate every single entry into the contest- including all of the sturgeon submitted by young children. We hope that the popularity of this contest will continue to expand, allowing us to create age categories and choose more winners.