John Gifford
​
c.v.
​Education
2023 Graduate Certificate in Food Policy & Sustainability Leadership, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
2010 MFA in Writing, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK
1999 BA in English/History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Awards / Honors
2023 Finalist, Golden Quill Awards, The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania
2022 Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society
2019 Notable Essay, The Best American Essays
2019 Notable Essay, The Best American Sports Writing
2018 Pushcart Prize Nomination
2018 Notable Essay, The Best American Essays
2017 Finalist, Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Awards
2015 Finalist, Press 53 Short Fiction Award
2012 Pushcart Prize Nomination
2010 Ernest Hemingway Fiction Award, University of Central Oklahoma
2008 - 2010 Gamma Phi Beta Honor Society, University of Central Oklahoma
1999 Goldia Cooksey Memorial Award, University of Oklahoma
Books​
In Progress, A Grassland Journal
2026 Landscaping for Wildlife: Essays on Our Changing Planet, Belle Point Press
2020 Where East Meets West, Bowen Press
2019 Pecan America: Exploring a Cultural Icon, University Press of Kansas
2019 Red Dirt Country: Field Notes and Essays on Nature, University of Oklahoma Press
2018 The Sharks of Al Jubail, Bowen Press
2016 Wish You Were Here, Big Table
2002 Small Stream Bass, The Countryman Press
2002 Oklahoma Sportfishing, The Countryman Press
Research Report
2023 Hawaiʻi Agritourism: Examining how Agritourism can be Responsibly Implemented to Support Small-Scale Farmers and
Ecological and Cultural Preservation in the Hawaiian Islands, ASU, Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems
Anthologies
2026 Pushpins of Paradise, a Florida Literary Tour. University Press of Florida
2020 Flash Nonfiction Food, Woodhall Press
2019 The Very Best of Big Table Publishing, Vol. II, Big Table
2011 Illinois River Survey, A Visual Record, Oklahoma Conservation Photography Survey
2011 Battle Runes: Writings on War, Editions Bibliotekos
2010 Ain’t Nobody That Can Sing Like Me, New Oklahoma Writing, Mongrel Empire
Speaking
2025 Red Dirt Country: An Interview with Author John Gifford on Nature, Storytelling, and Place.
Keynote: Oklahoma Recreation and Parks Society's 2025 Conference.
2024 An Interview with John Gifford on Nature & the Environment, Chautauqua Journal
2022 The Black Bears of Vancouver Island, WildCare Foundation, Wildlife Around the World Conference
2020 Featured Guest, “Meant to Be Eaten,” Heritage Radio Network
2020 Guest Speaker, Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute, Hilton Head Island, SC
2020 Guest Speaker, Metropolitan Library System, Oklahoma City, OK
2019 Featured Guest, Oklahoma Book Festival, Oklahoma City, OK
2019 Guest Speaker, Commonplace Books, Oklahoma City, OK
2018 Guest Speaker, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
2010 Guest Speaker, National Popular Culture Association, St. Louis, MO
2010 Guest Speaker, University of Phoenix, Oklahoma City, OK
2003 Featured Guest, Outdoor Oklahoma, OETA TV, Oklahoma City, OK
2002 Featured Speaker, Barnes & Noble, Norman, OK
Selected Publications
Nonfiction
2024 “The Redoubtable Bull Shark,” The American Scholar
2024 “Running Through the Seasons,” Chautauqua Journal
2023 “Augusta Metcalfe: A Woman of the West,” Oklahoma Humanities
2023 “The Gray Ghosts of Oahu,” Sporting Classics
2023 “Glover River,” Humana Obscura
2023 “The Pollinator Garden,” The London Reader
2023 “Chow-Chow-Cha!” Kitchen Work
2022 “The Essence of Home,” The Fourth River
2022 “NGO Panel in D.C. Discusses…” ASU Swette Center News
2022 “New Turnpike an Attack on Wildlife,” The Oklahoman
2022 “Fuller Brook Dreams,” Pittsburgh Quarterly
2022 “Don’t Stand So Close to Me,” Blueline Magazine
2022 “To Know a Place,” Big Sky Journal
2022 “Arizona Conservationist Describes…” ASU Swette Center News
2022 “Western Rangeland Management,” ASU Swette Center News
2021 “Sunny City on the Southern Plains,” Western Art & Architecture
2020 “Consider the Catfish,” Tulane Review
2020 “The Net,” Critical Read
2020 “The Flavors of Home,” Catamaran Literary Reader
2020 “Salmon on the Table,” Gastronomica
2020 “A Taste of Home,” Traverse Magazine
2019 “From Gridiron to Garden,” EatingWell
2019 “Answering the Humble Knock,” Harvard Divinity Bulletin
2018 “A Street Photographer’s Gide to Havana,” Santa Clara Review
2018 “Decoy,” The Meadow
2018 “No Alterations,” The Lindenwood Review
2018 “The Decisive Moment,” New Mexico Review
2017 “It Nourishes You,” Kestrel
2017 “A Very Special Fish,” Arkansas Review
2017 Oh, Give Me a Home…” The Smart Set
2017 “The Cross Timbers,” American Forests
2016 “Are Americans About to Go Nuts for Pecans,” The Huffington Post
2016 “Are Americans About to Go Nuts for Pecans,” Modern Farmer (Original)
2016 “The Solace of Flowing Water,” Notre Dame Magazine
2016 “Ellen Rae’s Bourbon Slush,” Remedy Quarterly
2016 “How Millennials (Almost) Killed the Wine Cork,” The Atlantic
2016 “Enigmatic Frenchman,” Sport Literate
2016 “Profile: Oklahoma City,” U.S. News & World Report
2015 “Rise ane Shine,” Austin Monthly
2015 “5 Fabulous Bars in Oklahoma City,” The Dallas Morning News
2015 “Fires,” Southwest Review
2015 “Breathe,” The Los Angeles Review
2015 “Census,” The Christian Science Monitor
2014 “A Hand,” Santa Clara Review
2013 “Running as a Means to an End,” Sport Literate
2013 “Edmond, Oklahoma,” Orion
2013 “7:51 a.m.,” Written River
2013 “Last Light,” Saw Palm
2013 “Pie Transports Me,” The Christian Science Monitor
2013 “Gator Aid,” Country Magazine
2013 “Old Florida,” Outside In
2013 “Three Winter Hikes,” The Dallas Morning News
2013 “Branson Outdoors Offers…” The Dallas Morning News
2013 “Miracle Maker,” Brag Book
2012 “Gardening Gifts,” Georgia Magazine
2012 “Blueberry Eyes…” Brag Book
2012 “New Kid in Town,” Brag Book
2012 “Nurse Shadowing,” Oklahoma Nursing Times
2012 “Civil War,” American Roads
2011 “Core Values in Action,” The Oklahoma Nurse
2011 “The Fish are Biting in Branson,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch
2011 “Finding Dr. Right,” Brag Book
2011 “Coastal Charmer,” Birmingham Magazine
2011 “Back Door Branson,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch
2011 “Destination Anywhere,” Evansville Living
2010 “Gator Aid,” inTravel Magazine
2010 “Crossing the Line,” Southern Grit
2010 “Beyond the Theme Parks,” Travelmag
2010 “Tex-Mex,” More Than Thought
2010 “Chickasaw National Recreation Area,” Travel OK
2010 “Oklahoma’s Urban Wildernesses,” Travel OK
2010 “Tenkiller Trio,” Travel OK
2010 “Tee Time,” TraveL OK
2010 “Adrenaline Rush,” TraveL OK
2010 “Float Your Boat,” Travel OK
2010 “The Call of the Wild,” Travel OK
2010 “Mountain Biking Meccas,” Travel OK
2010 “Illinois River Overnighter,” Travel OK
2010 “Bald Eagle Viewing,” Travel OK
2010 “Three Rivers WMA,” Travel OK
2010 “Bicycling Oklahoma,” TraveL OK
2010 “Try Fly Fishing,” Travel OK
2010 “Nature Photography: Three Tips,” Travel OK
2009 “Absorbing Nature,” The Norman Transcript
2009 “Fishing in the Sunshine,” The Sunday Oklahoman
2009 “A Fishing Buddy for Life,” The Sunday Oklahoman
2009 “8 Cool Lakes & Rivers,” Travel OK
2009 “Oklahoma’s Swiss Army Knife…” Travel OK
2009 “Kidding Around,” Travel OK
2009 “Hit the Trail,” Travel OK
2009 “Oklahoma’s Perfect 10,” Travel OK
2009 “A Bird in the Hand…” Travel OK
2009 “Southeast Oklahoma’s Triple Option,” Travel OK
2009 “North by Northwest,” Travel OK
2009 “Oklahoma’s Big Three,” 2009
2009 “Have Canoe, WilL Travel,” Travel OK
2009 “Not So Fast,” The Sunday Oklahoman
2008 “The Power Tool Experience,” Woodworker’s Journal
2008 “Roadmap to Improved Patient Satisfaction,” The Bottom Line
2007 “Bonefish and Breathtaking Beauty,” The Sunday Oklahoman
2007 “Rules of Engagement,” Oklahoma City Downtown
2007 “Holiday in the Hills,” AAA Southern Traveler
2007 “Cedar Blue Resort,” Coast to Coast
2007 “A Fly Tier’s Survival Kit,” Saltwater Fly Fishing
2007 “Walleye: The Best Five Places,” The Sunday Oklahoman
2007 “Deadman’s Bones,” Saltwater Fly Fishing
2006 “Tiny Flies, Big Fish,” The Sunday Oklahoman
2006 “Antidote to Healthcare Costs,” Oklahoma City Downtown
2005 “Outdoor Odyssey,” AAA Southern Traveler
2004 “Fly Fishing the San Juan River,” The Norman Transcript
2004 “Walleye Fishing,” Oklahoma Game & Fish
2004 “Signs From Another Time,” The Norman Transcript
2004 “The Heavener Runestone,” Oklahoma Today
2004 “Winged Migration,” Oklahoma Today”
2004 “Moonlighting for Bass,” The Norman Transcript
2004 “Ten Tips” The Sunday Oklahoman
2004 “Reading Stream Pools,” Boy’s Life
2004 “Illinois River Walleye,” The Sunday Oklahoman
2004 “Walleye Fishing,” The Norman Transcript
2004 “Isolation Part of the Job for Veteran Forester,” The Norman Transcript
2004 “Earth Day…” The Norman Transcript
2004 “Flyfishing Southeast Oklahoma’s…” Fly Fish America
2004 “Arkansas’ White River…” The Sunday Oklahoman
2004 “World Record Brown,” The Sunday Oklahoman
2004 “Safety First,” The Sunday Oklahoman
2004 “Photographer Filling Frame…” The Norman Transcript
2003 “Sometimes, Fishing Vicariously is as Good as the Real Thing,” The Norman Transcript
2003 “High Quality Binoculars Are a Lifetime Investment,” The Norman Transcript
2003 “Flyfishing the Glover River,” The Sunday Oklahoman
2003 “Market Spotlight,” Writer’s Digest
2003 “Terrestrials…” The Norman Transcript
2003 “Small Stream Tactics,” Flyfishing & Tying Journal
2003 “Daydreams About Night Things,” The Sunday Oklahoman
2003 “Bass Class,” The Norman Transcript
2003 “Chasing Carp…” The Sunday Oklahoman
2003 “Gulf Coast Getaway,” The Sunday Oklahoman
2003 “High-Water Bass,” American Angler
2003 “Tales From the Shark Side,” The Norman Transcript​
2003 “Split-Cane Dreams,” Oklahoma Today
2003 “A Versatile Trio,” The Norman Transcript
2003 “Now is the Time…” The Sunday Oklahoman
2003 “Market Spotlight,” Writer’s Digest
2003 “Good Rods, Lower Price,” The Sunday Oklahoman
2003 “Custom Fly Rods,” The Norman Transcript
2002 “The Call of the Wild,” Oklahoma Today
2002 “Night Fishing,” ESPN Outdoors
2002 Texoma’s Autumn Bronze,” The Sunday Oklahoman
2002 “The Autumn Mystique,” The Norman Transcript
2002 “Low Water Stream Fishing,” Fishing and Hunting News
2002 “Wilson’s Decoys,” Oklahoma Today
2002 “Microlures,” The Sunday Oklahoman
2002 “The Ones That Get Away,” The Norman Transcript
2002 “Sooner State Grand Slams,” In-Fisherman
2002 “Moss Lake,” Texas Fishing and Hunting News
2002 “Spring Fashion at White Rock Lake,” Texas Fishing and Hunting News
2002 “Pat Mayse Offers…” Texas Fishing and Hunting News
2002 “Lake Welsh,” ESPN Outdoors
2002 “Lake Whitney,” ESPN Outdoors
2002 “Martin Creek,” Texas Fishing and Hunting News
2002 “The Road to Lake Whitney” Texas Fishing and Hunting News
2000 “Edmond Santa Fe…” HighWired Sports
2000 “No. 6 Jenks Takes Control,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Edmond Memorial…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Pioneer Dominates…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Williams Helps No. 24…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Broken Arrow Boys…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Autumn in Islamorada,” Boaters Magazine
2000 “Finding Fish in the Wind,” Boaters Magazine
2000 “Second Straight Loss…” HighWired Sports
2000 “No. 12 Moore…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Moore Shuts Out Norman…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Tulsa Union Drops…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Edmond Memorial vs. Jenks…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Del City Taking…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Chiles in High Gear,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Out in the Cold,” Boaters Magazine
2000 “Rodebush Takes Oklahoma…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Bishop Kelley Edges…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Edmond North Upsets…” HighWired Sports
2000 “No. 24 Midwest City…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Moore Eager for Rematch,” HighWired Sports
2000 “El Reno, Chiles, Run to…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Moore Wins Rematch…” HighWired Sports
2000 “New Coach Hopes…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Coach Runs Tight Ship…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Ada Edges El Reno…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Jump Shot Makes…” HighWired Sports
2000 “New Coach Brings…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Edmond Swimmers…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Norman Girls Make…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Valley Guys,” HighWired Sports
2000 “The Versatile Six,” Boaters Magazine
2000 “A Noble Victory” HighWired Sports
2000 “Unbeaten Panthers,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Tulsa Union Wins…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Another Volleyball Title,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Timberwolves Win,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Putnam City, Moore…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Cross Country: Santa Fe…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Air Taylor Has Norman Flying High,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Harris Carries…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Moore Moves Up…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Offensive Line Gets…” HighWired Sports
2000 “It’s Lion Season…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Close Battle Shaping Up…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Wired In: Facemask Calls,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Pauls Valley Ready…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Moore Wallops Del City…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Pauls Valley Celebrates…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Fighting the Bronze Bully,” Boaters Magazine
2000 “Tigers Tame Timberwolves in the Air,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Warriors Wreak Havoc…” HighWired Sports
2000 “The Storming Warriors,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Noble’s Hopes Looming Large,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Tulsa Kelley Wins…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Edmond Memorial Nips Santa Fe,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Edmond Memorial Runs to Glory,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Norman Wins JV Gridiron Battle,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Jenks, Union Top HWS State Rankings,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Westmoore Fighting…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Lady Huskies Survive,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Lady Bulldogs Take Close One,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Westmoore Blanks Norman,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Area 6A Rankings Include…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Tigers Win…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Norman North in Playoff Form,” HighWired Sports
2000 “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Bombs Away,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Norman North Cross Country Teams…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Washington Continues Its Assault…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Seagraves Sizzles for Edmond…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Big Victory for Del City,” HighWired Sports
2000 “No. 9 Jenks Klincks the Door…” HighWired Sports
2000 “Penalties OK With Coach,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Beller Keeps Washington Perfect,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Off and Running,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Softball Swings Away,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Tigers Take Battle,” HighWired Sports
2000 “Looking North,” Durocher’s
2000 “The Visionary,” Durocher’s
2000 “DRV: The Quiet Company,” Durocher’s
2000 “ACBS: A New Kind of Long-Distance Learning,” Durocher’s
2000 “The Reigning Champion,” Durocher’s
2000 “A New Bethany,” Durocher’s
2000 “Youthful Ambition,” Durocher’s
2000 “The American Goldfinch,” Outdoor Oklahoma
2000 “The Red Fox,” Outdoor Oklahoma
1999 “The Bald Eagle,” Outdoor Oklahoma
1999 “Fountains of Youth,” Oklahoma Today
1999 “The Elk,” Outdoor Oklahoma
1999 “The Beaver,” Outdoor Oklahoma
1999 “A Feast for the Ears,” Oklahoma Today
1999 “The Copperhead,” Outdoor Oklahoma
1999 “Reconstructing History” Oklahoma Today
1998 “The McGranahan Homestead,” Oklahoma Today
Fiction
2019 “A Brief History of the American Bison,” Pilgrimage
2019 “Fire Season,” Pilgrimage
2018 “Where the Winds are Warm and Steady,” High Plains Register
2018 “Angel Investor,” High Plains Register
2018 “Some Years It’s a Bumper Crop,” High Plains Register
2015 “It Comes With the Territory,” The Saturday Evening Post
2015 “Droning,” Switchback
2015 “Lean Methodology,” Ottawa Arts Review
2015 “Money Note,” The MacGuffin
2015 “Out on the Edge of the World,” The Sand Canyon Review
2015 “Temple, Texas,” Kindred
2015 “Reception,” North Dakota Quarterly Mobile
2015 “After the Land Run,” North Dakota Quarterly Mobile
2015 “The View From Mount Scott,” North Dakota Quarterly Mobile
2015 “What Would Your Mother Say?” Cloudbank
2015 “To Better Serve You,” Carbon Culture
2015 “In a Few Minutes I’ll Be Gone,” The Ocean State Review
2015 “It Gets Under Your Skin,” Louisiana Literature
2015 “On Standby,” The Farallon Review
2015 “This is What it Means to Believe,” December
2014 “Two Turtledoves,” Cold Mountain Review
2014 “There’s a Word for That,” Portland Review
2014 “Wish You Were Here,” Storm Cellar
2014 “Even Lifetime Warranties Have Expiration Dates,” Storm Cellar
2014 “Winning,” Soundings Review
2014 “This is Why We’re Going,” Harpur Palate
2013 “Catch and Release,” Whitefish Review
2011 “Chance of Rain,” Sleet Magazine
2011 “Walleyed,” The Cleveland Review
2011 “Side Effects Include…” Red Fez
2010 “Fresh Paint,” Sugar Mule
Professional Affiliations (present and past)
Urban Wildlife Research Project (Board of Directors)
Southern Plains Productions (Co-founder & Board Secretary)
Oklahoma City Office of Sustainability (Natural & Built Environment Team)
Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society (Lifetime Member)
Save the Cross Timbers (Writer & Photographer)
WildCare Foundation (Board of Directors)
Outdoor Writers Association of America (Member)
Alabama West-Florida Chapter of the United Methodist Church (Journalist)
Edmond, OK Department of Urban Forestry (Writer & Photographer)
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