We’ve announced the winners of Round 122 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest [1].
Note to the top three prize winners: Please contact me and let me know your UPS and USPS address(es), for your prizes. Thanks. – JWR
The top three prize winners will each receive some great prize packages. The winners for Round 122 are…
First Prize Winner:
First Prize goes to A.F., for Introducing Your Community to Emergency Preparedness. It was posted January 8-10, 2026. See: Part 1 [2], Part 2 [3], and Part 3 [4].) He will receive as prizes:
- A Gunsite Academy [5]Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course [6] (a $1,095 value),
- A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” [7] variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources [8] (a $350 value),
- American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) [9] is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses [10]. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course [11].
- HSM Ammunition [12] in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
Second Prize Winner:
Second Prize goes to 3AD Scout for Prelude to World War. It was posted December 19-21, 2025. (See Part 1 [13], Part 2 [14], and Part [15]3.)
He will receive:
- A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training [16], that has a combined retail value of $679
- Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord [17] (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com [18] (a $287 value).
- Preparedness author Jennifer Rader [19] is providing a $200 purchase credit for any of her eight published food storage and medical preparedness books, including the
- A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company [20], toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!
Third Prize Winner:
Third Prize goes to Joe R., for Caltrops: Making Homemade Tire Spikes [21]. It was posted January 17, 2026. He will receive:
- A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters [22] (a $305 value),
- Two sets of [23]The Civil Defense Manual, [24] (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
- A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC [25] that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
- A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company [20], toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.
Honorable Mention Prizes
The writers of the Round 122 Honorable Mention articles will each receive a transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company [20], toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun, or any knife or bayonet. (Even though Elk Creek Company is on hiatus, you can still use your purchase credits. Just e-mail me and let me know what merchandise you’d like to apply your credit to.) There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns in most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!
There were six Honorable Mention prize-winning articles in Round 122. They are:
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide to TEOTWAWKI, by St. Funogas (See Part 1 [26], Part 2 [27], Part 3 [28], Part 4 [29], and Part 5 [30].)
- Establishing Relationships in Your New Locale [31], by SaraSue
- The Elenco Two-IC AM Radio Kit, by Mike in Alaska (See Part 1 [32] and Part 2.) [33]
- Introduction to Suppressors [34], by Subsonic Scribe
- SWL Receiver Considerations and Buying Advice [35], by Sarge B.
- Practical Preparedness Suggestions, by R.J. (See Part 1 [36] and Part 2 [37].)
Get Busy Writing!
Round 123 begins today and runs for two months, so please get busy writing and e-mail [38] us your entry. More than $981,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics [39]. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. Thanks, – JWR