Two past grand prize winners have come back as judges for the 2024 Veneer Tech Craftsman’s Challenge and are ready to consider your entries. But time is short to enter the prestigious contest, with the deadline looming on June 28.

Paul Schurch of Schurch Woodwork in Laupahoehoe, Hawaii, is a multi-time winner, having captured the grand prize and several category prizes over the years, including in the specialty category with a dress made entirely of veneer.

Marc Sanderson of Wilke Sanderson, an architectural millwork firm in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, is also a past grand prize winner. His company is known for spectacular projects across the country, frequently making prominent use of veneer.

A category and prize for you
No matter what kind of woodworking you do, if it uses veneer, there is an opportunity for you in the 2024 Veneer Tech Craftsman’s Challenge, with thousands of dollars in prizes for exemplary woodwork using natural veneer in a wide variety of categories.

The designer, craftsman, or manufacturer who enters the best work submitted in the view of a panel of expert judges wins a Grand Prize of $1,500. In addition, there are separate category prizes of $500 each for Architectural, Cabinetry, Furniture, Marquetry, Specialty Products, and Student Work. Winners will be announced at IWF in Atlanta.

In the past, judges have repeatedly mentioned how important quality photographs were to their decision, so entrants should read some photographic advice from Scott Grove. Grove has been a multiple winner and has served several times as a judge.

A look at past winners
Dennis Zongker captured the Grand Prize in the 2023 Veneer Tech Craftsman’s Challenge with an Art Deco styled music box that wowed the judges with its superlative craftsmanship, thoughtful use of veneer, and tremendous attention to detail.
In addition to Zongker’s Grand Prize win, here’s a look at some of the other 2023 winners.

Architectural Woodwork: Journey from Cuzco, by Spider Johnson, Tesoro Design earned the top prize in the Architectural Woodwork category. The 7x8-foot piece covers an entertainment center in Austin, Texas. It features a tableau inspired by Peruvian burial dolls and uses dyed and natural veneers, including elm burl, red gum, composite veneers, walnut burl, bubinga, maple, harewood, mappa burl, madrone burl, and teak.

Cabinetry: Timothy Schefter said he had not used veneer before attempting the massive project involving 195 doors, drawers, and panels for a total of 644 square feet, all done in quartersawn sapele veneer. In a departure from traditional design, he decided to orient the grain horizontally, creating more challenges in the production. Still, the result were excellent.

Furniture: Styled after a piece that was probably made for one of Marie Antoinette’s palaces, the Marquetry of Cubes Ladies Desk by Steven Lash is a masterpiece of subtle complexity in classical lines. Wood species used include Honduras mahogany, beech, holly, ebony, and amboyna.

Marquetry: A lifelike grizzly bear and cubs march across the front and sides of the award-winning elegant sideboard, and opening the drawer reveals a marquetry of a western bluebird and aspen leaves, all done by Wayne Delyea. The piece features solid walnut and veneers of spalted maple, Peruvian walnut, santos rosewood, mappa burl, holly, ziricote, poplar, ebony, nogal walnut, Australian walnut, and quilted maple, all in natural colors.

Specialty Products: Tuca by Chico Margarita, Ophicina São Francisco, won top prize in the Specialty Products category with a veneer painting of dragonflies. The piece features natural veneers including pau ferro, pau marfim, freijo, roxinho, as well as toned veneers.

Student Design: A wall cabinet by Kiya Vega-Hutchens, Vermont Woodworking School, won for Student Design, taking its inspiration from a New York tenement building.

Read more about past winners or learn more about the 2024 contest and enter online. 

About the Craftsman’s Challenge
Originally created by Veneer Technologies to promote the use of veneer in woodworking, the Veneer Tech Craftsman’s Challenge is now owned and conducted by CCI Media LLC, the parent company of Woodworking Network and FDMC magazine. Veneer Tech continues to sponsor the contest.