I would like to announce the start of my Annual Trapperman Kids Art & Writing Contest!

THE PRIZES:

FIRST PLACE $100 PLUS a JoeGoodmanPrints.com prize package!
SECOND PLACE: $75 PLUS a JoeGoodmanPrints.com prize package!
THIRD PLACE: $50 PLUS a JoeGoodmanPrints.com prize package!

TO ENTER:

You must be LESS than 18 years of age and a Trapperman member or family member only. You must have your parent's permission to enter, as the winners will be asked to pm me their addresses in order for us to ship the prize packages to you. You must submit your entry no later than 9 PM EASTERN TIME ON CHRISTMAS EVE, DECEMBER 24TH. NO EXCEPTIONS PLEASE! To submit your entry, you must post a scan or good quality photo of your finished drawing or painting, as well as TYPE IN your writing or story RIGHT HERE IN THIS THREAD. YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME, AGE AND STATE YOU RESIDE WITH YOUR ENTRY. Ask for help from your folks, or other members here if you have difficulty posting. This is so all Trapperman members may see and read it. Previous winners may enter again! Let's see how you've improved over the years!

THE RULES:

This year's theme is: "MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS GIFT!!!"

FIRST, write a story that describes, "MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS GIFT!!!" and whatever that means to you. A gift you received. OR a gift that you or your family GAVE to someone. It could be a true story, or a "made-up" story you've created in your mind. I'd like this story to be a few paragraphs minimum, if possible. I know this may be difficult for the very young contestants and we will consider this when we judge the entries at the end. Include many details to make your story interesting, who, what, where, when, why, how!?

SECOND, You must draw or paint a picture that goes with this story and illustrates it in the best possible way. It may be FULL COLOR OR BLACK & WHITE. It may be done in PENCIL, INKS, WATERCOLORS, ACRYLICS, OILS, CHALKS, CRAYONS, MARKERS, WHATEVER! Put as much effort as you can into it! I want to see what talented young folks we have here on Trapperman! Then have someone take a nice brightly lit photo or scan of it and post it here with your story!!

ONCE AGAIN, THE CONTEST ENDS AT 9 PM EASTERN TIME ON CHRISTMAS EVE !! NO EXCEPTIONS. YOU FOLKS ON CENTRAL, MOUNTAIN, AND PACIFIC TIME PLEASE MAKE NOTE!

WE WILL ANNOUNCE THEM HERE ON CHRISTMAS MORNING, SOME TIME AFTER MRS. CLAUS HAS HAD HER COFFEE…..
PM ME IF YOU OR YOUR FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS.

WELL KIDS, I SUGGEST YOU GET BUSY!!!
AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL THE TRAPPERMAN FAMILY!!!

From The Goodman's
Joe, Julie, and Carly
www.JoeGoodmanPrints.com
614-863-9456

Count me in!

Think I have a couple entering from this home.

in it to win it

It was Christmas morning in the year 2022 my little brother had just gotten up so i carried him down stairs and we met our parents on the couch we slept in it was 10:00 half an hour later my sister comes down the stairs sleepy and tired from staying up watching movies. as soon as she sat down my little brother passed us our gifts and stockings we have a tradition where the youngest goes first so first went my little brother then my sister then finally it was my turn and i couldn't wait i dove right in to my stocking and looked at all my new stuff next i had my 12x8 plaid wrapped box. i had been waiting to open this one for 2 weeks as soon as i saw my name on it. and it was finally time to open it at first all i saw was a come stripe with the words hunting on it so i ripped it off and opened the sturdy plastic box and when i did i knew exactly what it was. the cabelas knife set for helping process deer. i was so happy i wanted to use it right away but i couldn't because at that time we were living in a town house so we took my step dads deer to the butcher. but it wasn't the gift that mattered to me the most it was the time i got to spend with my family that cold winter day.


almost 2 years later i still haven't gotten to use it on a deer of my own but i will get there eventually until then i have the memories of helping my dad cut up his a month or so ago. and all the Delicious venison we processed that day.





Preston Thompson 14 mn

Mother Nature’s Christmas Present
It was a warm Christmas Day and after playing a round of disc golf with my cousin and brothers, we went in to eat Christmas dinner. It was the first Christmas after Grandpa died and we were at Grandma’s house. We ate lots of ham, rolls, potatoes, and lots of pie(Grandma’s specialty).

After eating, we decided to go fishing on Grandpa’s pond because it was so warm. Now Grandpa’s pond has lots of largemouth bass and because of this, they are all little(most are two, maybe three pounds max). I had some problems with my reel and got started late. I stepped up to the bank, and casted it straight over a log. ‘Oh no,’ I thought as I jerked on the line hoping it wouldn’t snag. My heart sank as I felt the heavy weight on the end of my line. I had snagged my line, first cast.

Suddenly, my line grew taut and began to head out. I quickly grabbed my reel and held the line as tight as I dared. Eventually it tired and I began to reel it in. It felt really heavy and was pulling really hard. I wondered if I had a turtle or maybe I was just imagining things. As I pulled it up to the bank, I realized that I had just caught the biggest bass I had ever caught, or for that matter the biggest I had never seen! My cousin quickly ran back to his house and got a scale. It weighed in at exactly five pounds. I let it go and I hope I see that one or a bigger one some day.

Preston Dirks
Age -13
West Central MO

My first favorite Christmas present

It was Christmas day at my family's trapping cabin and it was very busy. I always wanted a .22 of my own to hunt small game. When we were almost done opening our presents there was one left and it had my name on it. I frantically opened it and saw it was a S&W M&P AR .22 rifle in the box!

Instantly I asked my dad if I could outside and shoot it. "After you eat your breakfast" he said. I ate my breakfast as fast I could but not too fast, so I didn't look like an animal. After Breakfast I ran outside with my gun on my back and some ammo in my pocket. I waited for my dad to catch up with me at the shooting range and set up the target. After my dad sighted in the gun, I started to blast the target.

I could hit the target but I was not a good shot. I took alot of small game with that gun, it was one of the best Christmas gifts I got.

By:Nahtryah Pope
Age:13
Interior Alaska

Nice story coalcreekkid and picture too!

Once upon a time on Christmas day. I woke up and started down the stairs, my ma is sitting in her rocking chair sewing up a storm, my brother is on Trappersman, and my pa came inside and told me to put on my coat and go outside to the barn. I hurried to the barn, and I found an Arabian horse standing inside.

I never saw such a beautiful brown coat and a golden-brown mane glimmering in the candlelight. I knew pa wanted me to do a test run on the horse, so I raced through the wide road. Later that day I found out it was a girl and so I named her chocolate because of her brown coat.

My horse's favorite thing to eat is carrots and apples but apples mostly. Pa said that Arabian horses are for racing, but i never raced before. I told pa that she slows down all of the time when I ride her. Pa said that she might have dirt in its frog, so I cleaned it out. Pa took my horse to get her shoed, pa said it protects her feet. He came home an hour later with chocolate and a saddle, stirrups, reins, and a bit. The next day I woke up and ate breakfast, I didn't see ma, so I went to the barn to feed chocolate. I saw ma braiding chocolate's tail and mane! "She looks fantastic" said.

Ma said she has to look good to be my horse. I was lucky to have a great family i thought. Later that day I went outside to feed the horse and ride her for awhile and put her in the barn, ate dinner and went to bed. I thought chocolate was the best christmas present ever!


Sa'adrii Pope, 11 years old,Alaska.

Enjoying all the entries. Good job young'uns. Keep the stories and drawings coming!

Welcome to the contest Preston!! BUT... just one more thing. You need to post your full name, first and last, THEN you will be officially entered. Great job!!!
Joe Goodman

Welcome to the contest Coalcreekkid!! BUT... just one more thing. You need to post your full name, first and last, THEN you will be officially entered. Great job!!!
Joe Goodman

We want to welcome Preston to the contest...BUT !!! There is no PICTURE with your entry!! Please post your drawing asap so you can be considered for the contest!!

ATTENTION KIDS & PARENTS !! Please post your drawings and type in your entry along with the kids full name and age to be eligible. If you have any questions, please message me! I am so happy to see these great entries! Are there any other kids out there working on the contest?? I hope so!!! Get busy!!

i fixed my name can you see the picture now?

There are actually two Prestons entered in this contest. I believe the one without the picture showing is the other Preston.

Your picture is fine.

ok thanks

I fixed my name.

Got my picture on there. It is a little faded and some of the shading doesn't show up.

Thanks, same to you.

Well, well, well!! We have some VERY good entries so far!!! Please welcome Preston Thompson, Preston Dirks, Nahtryah Pope, and Sa'adrii Pope to my contest!!! ALL RIGHT!! You other kids really have your work cut out for ya, as these are very strong entries. Remember! The contest goes til 9 pm Eastern time, Christmas Eve December 24th. So you best get those pens and pencils rockin!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Joe Goodman
www.JoeGoodmanPrints.com