Rancho Santa Fe sculptor Dale Steffen earns awards at SD County Fair

Dale Steffen (also known as the “bird man of Rancho Santa Fe”) received three ribbons for his bird wood sculptures at this year’s San Diego County Fair. His piece “Semipalmated Plover” won second place; “American Avocet” won fourth place and “White-Crowned Sparrow” received an honorable mention.

Steffen, a charter member of the Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild, has been entering his work into the fair competition for the last dozen years. He said he believes it’s a great place to showcase his art as some 500,000 visitors pass by his work in the Design in Wood section of the Mission Tower Building.

“My wife Sharon and I go to the fair each year for the awards presentation, not to mention the food, Texas BBQ and the cinnamon rolls, yum!” Steffen said.

Steffen’s artwork can be viewed all year long at the Rancho Santa Fe Art Gallery, 6004 Paseo Delicias, in the Rancho Santa Fe village. Steffen also works in other mediums, such as clay, oil paintings and pastels.

His pieces can also be found online at www.sdvag.net.