MARION, Md. — A Maryland man has won a prestigious award for his duck carvings.

Richard Smoker, who moved from Selinsgrove 26 years ago, was awarded the best in world award during the Ward World Championship Wildfowl Competition in April in Ocean City, Md.

The event was sponsored by the Ward Foundation, of Salisbury, Md., and included more than 2,000 entries, Smoker said.

Smoker clinched the award for his carvings of a pair of red breasted Mergansers and a red throated loon, which took him more than four months to complete.

Smoker, 56, is a fourth-generation duck decoy carver in his family, which has been carving for the past 40 years.

“It’s a labor of love,” Smoker said. “It’s what I’ve been doing pretty much all my life.”

Smoker said he is fortunate to make his living through his art, and does most of his carving on commission.

Smoker is a 1970 graduate of the Selinsgrove Area High School.