Jim Story Award
The 2026 Jim Story Award Contest: THREE entry categories:
(1) Single Manipulated Gourd
(2) Multiple Manipulated Gourds (inseparable)
(3*) a Small Manipulated Gourd (less than 8" in every direction) *new for 2026
Entry Divisions:
What Do You Receive if You Win? (Open Category only)
1st Place: Choice of $150 or a Jim Story Gourd, a trophy and a photo of your gourd on the cover of the Spring issue of The Gourd Magazine
2nd Place: $50 & Certificate
****Master and Grand Master entrants are not eligible for cash prizes or trophies
****All winners, Open, Masters and Grand Masters will receive an extra copy of the magazine for bragging rights
(1) Single Manipulated Gourd
(2) Multiple Manipulated Gourds (inseparable)
(3*) a Small Manipulated Gourd (less than 8" in every direction) *new for 2026
Entry Divisions:
- OPEN- Qualifying entries have won 1st or 2nd place in an AGS-judged competition
- MASTER- Entrant has won 1st place twice in one of the JSA categories
- GRAND MASTER - Entrant has won 1st place in two or more of the JSA Categories
- *Note - For example: Master and Grand Master entrants may only enter in the Open Division for the categories they have not won 1st place in
What Do You Receive if You Win? (Open Category only)
1st Place: Choice of $150 or a Jim Story Gourd, a trophy and a photo of your gourd on the cover of the Spring issue of The Gourd Magazine
2nd Place: $50 & Certificate
****Master and Grand Master entrants are not eligible for cash prizes or trophies
****All winners, Open, Masters and Grand Masters will receive an extra copy of the magazine for bragging rights
Go to Jim Story Award Entry Information page
Go to Jim Story Judging Criteria page
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2025 Single Manipulated Gourd Winners
Tom Shaneyfelt, 2025 - 1st place SINGLE Manipulated Gourd
Celia Shanefelt, 2025 2nd place, Single Manipulated Gourds
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2025 Multiple Manipulated Gourd Winner
Tom Shaneyfelt, 2025 MULTIPLE, Inseparable Manipulated Gourds
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Forms, Tutorials and Educational Materials
2026 Entry Form (one for each entry)
2026 Jim Story Award Rules
Frequently Asked Questions
Jim Story Manipulated Gourd Judging Form
Growing & Harvesting Gourds
Growing a Gourd in a Flat Mold
Making & Using a Homemade Mold to Reshape a Gourd
Using Easy Constraints to Mold a Gourd
Gourd Pests
Green Cleaning Gourds
How to Tie a Knot with a Gourd
How to Build a Gourd Arbor
Photographing Your Gourd for the Jim Story Award
Sample/Examples of Completed Jim Story Questionnaires
Books:
The Immortal Molded Gourds of Mr. Zhang Cairi by Betty Finch and Guojun Zhang
2026 Jim Story Award Rules
Frequently Asked Questions
Jim Story Manipulated Gourd Judging Form
Growing & Harvesting Gourds
Growing a Gourd in a Flat Mold
Making & Using a Homemade Mold to Reshape a Gourd
Using Easy Constraints to Mold a Gourd
Gourd Pests
Green Cleaning Gourds
How to Tie a Knot with a Gourd
How to Build a Gourd Arbor
Photographing Your Gourd for the Jim Story Award
Sample/Examples of Completed Jim Story Questionnaires
Books:
The Immortal Molded Gourds of Mr. Zhang Cairi by Betty Finch and Guojun Zhang
