2018 Garden and Gun Made in the South Winner

It was a tremendous honor to receive notification yesterday that we have been chosen as the 2018 winner of the Garden and Gun magazine’s Made in the South competition for the Outdoor Category.  To be chosen a finalist let alone winner of this competition is beyond anything I could have expected or hoped for.  I feel humbled for the recognition.

Tomorrow would have been my dad’s 91st birthday and I can’t help but think of him upon hearing this news, and reflect on the good times I had with him as a kid .  If not for him introducing me to fly fishing when I was six, as well as instilling in me the desire to craft things with my own hands, I would not have found a calling that gives me the satisfaction I enjoy in making rods and sharing them with others with a similar love for the outdoors. I want to think he would have been a little proud.

I tip my hat to all the fine artists and craftsmen that submitted work for consideration and to those finalists and winners in all six categories.  Please join us in Charleston on November 10th at the Meet the Makers event to meet us and see our products! #madeinthesouthawards, @gardenand gun.