Several of Florida Sportsman’s contributing writers and photographers took home achievement awards for feature articles and photojournalism recently. Each year, the Florida Outdoor Writers Association (FOWA) announces the winners of their Excellence in Craft Awards. This year, the state’s largest professional writer’s organization held their conference in Charlotte Harbor.

Tommy Thompson, a regular contributor to Florida Sportsman and weekly reporter for Florida Sportsman’s Fishing 4cast on the Web, took home first prize in magazine feature for his piece called Backyard Skinny Dippers. The article ran in the August 2007 Florida Sportsman issue.

Other notable awards went to contributors Larry Larsen and Rusty Chinnis for their achievement in Travel Destination, photojournalism and photography categories. In the photography category, Larsen placed first and third, with Chinnis sandwiched in second place.

“I am extremely impressed with the quality, variety and overall excellence of the entries,” said Jack Holder, a judge from the California Outdoor Writers Association. “FOWA has some of the very best writers in the country.”

FOWA is open to individuals, companies and students who are involved in the outdoors.