Legends of the Wild, Episode 8 — “Duck Stamp Art, Conservation, and Legacy”

Host: Sam Soholt | Guest: Adam Grimm (Wildlife Painter, 3-Time Federal Duck Stamp Winner)
Date: September 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this richly detailed episode, host Sam Soholt sits down with renowned wildlife artist Adam Grimm to discuss the artistry, conservation impact, and personal stories behind the Federal Duck Stamp. The episode explores Adam’s journey as a wildlife painter, the challenges and emotions of competing in the Federal Duck Stamp Contest, the nuances of photorealism in wildlife art, and the vital role of the Duck Stamp program in conservation funding. The conversation also delves into family legacy, grassroots conservation efforts like "Stamp It Forward," and real-world stories of waterfowl management and rescue in the prairie pothole region.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Adam Grimm’s Artistic Journey

[01:42–07:00]

• Early Roots:
  Growing up in Ohio, Adam was influenced by his father’s love for the outdoors and inspired by watching Bob Ross on TV.
  "I always liked to draw... and it never failed. I'd see things out in nature that just really blew me away... I would try to draw it. That was a way I could tell that story..." — Adam Grimm [02:15]

• First Sale & Realization:
  At age 11, his grandfather paid him $20 for a drawing — a pivotal moment.
  "I was 11, so I was pretty young... I remember thinking, I wonder what else grandpa would like." — Adam Grimm [03:30]

• Path to Wildlife Art:
  Early experiences at craft shows selling wildlife-themed drawings. "After that, I really was like, you know, I'm just really want to do the wildlife art." — Adam Grimm [04:32]

• Transition to Painting:
  Began with drawing/pencil, then attempted oil painting (inspired by Bob Ross), before developing his own photorealistic style after mastering foundational drawing skills.

2. Photorealism and the Creative Process

[07:00–15:01]

• Style & Technique:
  Adam’s photorealistic method involves piecing together elements from dozens of photographs to construct a scene that can’t possibly exist in one frame in real life.

  "I'm working now like very photorealistic... I'll have to work sometimes from, I don't know, 40 or 50 photos... piecing every little thing together..." — Adam Grimm [07:00–08:23]

• Commission Work Example:
  He shares the story behind a complex painting of a pheasant being preyed upon by an ermine in a snowy cattail slough, composed from 50+ reference images.
  “I don’t have a photo of a ermine killing a pheasant in the snow... I had to figure out how to do the weasel. But I mean, probably like 50... I had taken hundreds of photos.” [12:06–13:14]

3. The Duck Stamp’s Conservation Impact

[15:09–26:41]

• Cornerstone Funding:
  Sam and Adam underline the Duck Stamp’s legal requirement that 98% of funds go directly to conservation, totaling over a billion dollars and more than 6 million acres protected.
  "Once I figured out, like, 98% of the duck stamp purchase price by law has to be spent on conservation... Since its inception, you know, over 6 million acres has been preserved." — Sam Soholt [17:08–17:46]

• Advocacy for Physical Stamps:
  Both stress the cultural value of the physical stamp in connecting hunters to conservation heritage.
  “If the E-stamp thing is too popular... I really don't want to see the duck stamp contest just become some digital print off on a license...” — Adam Grimm [16:00]

4. Grassroots Conservation — “Stamp It Forward” & Community Involvement

[23:45–25:41]

• Stamp It Forward:
  Launched by Sam and his brother to buy and distribute thousands of duck stamps through merchandise sales, helping people support conservation directly.
  "In the first fall, we bought a thousand... 2022, we hit 2,000 stamps. 2023, we hit 2,000 stamps... we've bought just shy of 8,000 stamps since 2019." — Sam Soholt [24:30–25:46]

• Call to Action:
  Adam offers to sign stamps mailed to him, further personalizing the connection to conservation efforts.

5. Anatomy of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest

[27:00–38:14]

• Contest Structure:
  Overview of how the contest is judged (multiple rounds, five judges with in/out votes, numerical scoring).
  “You’ve got five different judges... basically you have to paint a painting that's going to appeal to anybody. It's got to have broad appeal.” — Adam Grimm [27:13–28:29]

• Strategy, Risks, and Subjectivity:
  Discussion on species choice, broad appeal, and luck in winning; judges can be swayed by preference for certain species or colors.
  “I would much prefer if they said, everyone has to paint this duck. It would level everything. You wouldn't have species bias.” — Adam Grimm [42:02]

• Family Legacy:
  Adam’s daughter Madison, the most successful Junior Duck Stamp artist, will enter the adult contest for the first time.
  “I've told her multiple times, listen, don't get your hopes up... This is the Federal Duck stamp contest...” — Adam Grimm [30:19]

• Quote On Contest Stress:
  “The contests are tough. I mean, I don't even like watching them honestly. Especially if I'm in it... My daughter Madison is actually entering for the first time, the adult contest this year." — Adam Grimm [29:58–30:16]

6. Wildlife Habitat—Challenges, Restoration, and Rescue

[46:43–64:35]

• Prairie Pothole Region’s Role:
  Adam describes living in the “duck factory” of the prairie pothole region and the direct connection between local conservation and continent-wide waterfowl populations.
  "Within a mile of where I live, we have found pintail nests, green wing, teal nest, widgeon, gadwall, shovelers, redheads, canvas back, ruddy duck... all of these ducks within a mile of our house." — Adam Grimm [19:45]

• Habitat Loss, Agriculture, and Predators:
  Discussion on the decline of wetland habitat, the incentive structure for farmers, rise of raccoon/skunk populations, and how modern farming practices fragment habitat.

• Waterfowl Egg & Duckling Rescue (Second Chance Flight):
  Adam’s daughter Madison founded a nonprofit, Second Chance Flight, rescuing and raising hundreds of displaced/harmed duck eggs and ducklings, an effort supported by working with local farmers and a rare federal permit.

  “She started a nonprofit called Second Chance Flight... this year rescued around 200 ducks... she's only the second person I know of in the country to have a federal permit to collect eggs.” — Adam Grimm [54:43–55:17]

7. The Human Side: Family, Legacy, and Education

[50:27–94:38]

• Legacy & Impact:
  Adam reflects on his legacy shifting from artwork to his kids and how family involvement in both hunting and conservation education inspires future generations.
  “I realize it's my kids... I didn't realize the impact that, you know, me as their father and with what I cared about and taught them how much that it would impact their life and even other friends and family members...” — Adam Grimm [50:27]

• Conservation Events:
  Adam organized a hometown conservation education celebration focused on getting kids excited about waterfowl and habitat stewardship.
  “My goal was to get kids either excited about ducks or even duck hunting... they’re probably going to care about the birds more and then they’re going to care about the habitat.” — Adam Grimm [94:38]

8. Art, Color, and Individual Perception

[79:37–88:42]

• Seeing Differently:
  Subtle differences in how people (and judges) perceive colors and artistic decisions, drawing analogy to musical perfect pitch.
  “There's people that are tone deaf... I always say, well, there's people that are visually deaf, not blind. They just don't process what they're seeing the same way." — Adam Grimm [81:19–81:34]

• Mentoring the Next Generation:
  Adam offers guidance to Madison:
  “It's a lot... so complex... I’m just glad you can look at it and actually appreciate it now, because you now know what it takes to do it.” [87:50]

9. Duck Stamp as a Cultural and Conservation Touchstone

[95:08–End]

• How to Support:
  Adam encourages listeners to buy (even collect) stamps, regardless of whether they hunt, highlighting how accessible the Duck Stamp is as a conservation tool.

  “Definitely make sure you buy your duck stamp this year whether you hunt or not… Buy two actually. Or three.” — Adam Grimm [96:47]

• Staying Connected:
  Adam shares ways to order art, commission paintings, get stamps signed, and points listeners to his and his daughter’s websites/socials: AdamGrimm.com & Second Chance Flight.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You're building out a scene that would be dang near impossible to put down in one photo." — Sam Soholt [10:16]
• “There’s so much work that goes into it to make it look that believable.” — Adam Grimm on photorealistic wildlife art [14:08]
• “I always kind of thought of [the Duck Stamp] almost like a rite of passage... I got my federal duck stamp, I signed it, I got my license stuff, like I'm good to go.” — Adam Grimm [45:45–46:16]
• “We value this habitat and these birds and not just the birds that use it, but so many animals that use these wetlands...” — Adam Grimm [18:16]
• “The experiences that you get from [waterfowl hunting]... I used to always think that my artwork was going to be kind of my legacy. Right. And now I realize it's my kids.” — Adam Grimm [50:27]
• “If you spend time in the outdoors at all, the duck stamp is by far the easiest way to take that first step into raising money for wildlife.” — Sam Soholt [49:41]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Adam’s Artistic Origins & First Sales: 01:42–05:13
• Developing Photorealism & Technique: 06:46–15:01
• Duck Stamp’s Conservation Role: 16:23–18:15
• “Stamp it Forward” Campaign: 23:45–25:46
• Duck Stamp Contest Mechanics: 27:00–38:14
• Prairie Pothole Region—The Duck Factory: 19:45–22:19
• Egg & Duckling Rescue / Second Chance Flight: 54:43–55:18
• Art, Color, and Perception: 79:37–88:42
• Legacy, Family, and Conservation Events: 50:27–94:38
• Where to Find Adam and How to Support: 95:08–end

Resources & Links

• Adam Grimm Art: adamgrimm.com
• Second Chance Flight: secondchanceflight.com
• Stamp it Forward & Public Land Tees: publiclandtees.com

Final Takeaway:
This episode is a masterclass in how art, personal passion, and grassroots action can drive conservation. Adam Grimm’s life story and achievement bring home the idea that one person’s commitment to their craft—and the natural world—can ripple out to broader, tangible impact for waterfowl, habitat, and the next generation of conservationists. Whether you’re a hunter, collector, or simply an admirer of wild places, supporting the Duck Stamp program (and buying more than one) is perhaps the easiest, most direct step you can take for conservation.

Listen to this episode for emotional, inspiring, and practical insights at the intersection of wildlife art and conservation activism.