K-12 Students Invited to Enter 2012-13 Junior Duck Stamp Artwork Competition

2012 Best of Show

All Tennessee K-12 students are invited to compete in the 2013 Federal Junior Stamp art competition. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency serves as a partner in the contest which is sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Tennessee has been involved in the project since 1995. Florida piloted the first local contest in 1989. The program grew rapidly, and now all states and the District of Columbia participate. Entries are accepted through school (public or private), home school, or on your own.

The Junior Duck Stamp Program is also a conservation program designed to teach children about waterfowl and the value of wetlands. The dividends for program participation have proven tremendous.

Since the inception of the program, educators and parents have recounted the many ways it has had an immeasurable impact on their students. Students have also increased their observation skills, made great improvements in other academic areas, increased self-esteem and some have launched a career in art.

Jet Smith, of Ooltewah, was the Best of Show winner in the 18th annual contest. A 10th grade student last year, Jet depicted a female and male king eider and used colored pencils in his winning artwork he titled “In Royal Company.”

There were 11 other finalists for the Best of Show as a result of their first place award. Three first place winners were awarded for each division. An awards ceremony was held at the Bass Pro Shops location in Nashville in May.

How the enter the 2013 competition

All entries for the Tennessee art competition are due on March 15, 2013. Click here to print the rules and entry form for this free competition. Please keep in mind two key rules. First, the species of waterfowl you draw must be a native North American duck, goose, or swan. Second, all entries must be drawn horizontally and be nine inches high by 12 inches wide.

Soon after the annual entry deadline, the artwork is judged by a panel of experts. The judges change each year, but the panel typically includes a combination of waterfowl biologists, artists, and natural resource professionals. The art is separated into four grade groups (K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12), and each group is judged independently. Once the first place winners for each group have been selected, they are viewed again to select a single Best of Show for the state.

Entries may be sent to the following address:

Joan Stevens

Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge 3006 Dinkins Lane Paris, TN 38242

Other helpful web sites:

Tennessee Jr. Duck Stamp webpage: http://www.fws.gov/tennesseerefuge/JrDuckStamp.htm

National Jr. Duck Stamp webpage: http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/junior/junior.htm