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A note from the Kansas coordinator       2009 winners
Where to see the winning entries

    The United States Fish & Wildlife Service and The Coleman Company, Inc. co-sponsor the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program for Kansas.  Twenty-five ribbons are awarded in each of four age groups (K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12). The State's Best of Show represents Kansas at the National Competition in Washington, D.C.

    This educational program is designed for all public, private, parochial and home-schooled students in grades kindergarten through 12 to learn more about conservation through the arts. Incorporating scientific and wildlife management principles into a visual arts curriculum creates an active awareness of the critical need to protect, preserve and enhance our wetland habitat for waterfowl, migratory songbirds, and the hundreds of other plants and animals that depend on wetlands for their survival. State and national recognition of students, teachers, and schools can be gained while increasing the students' understanding of waterfowl and their wetland habitats by having them participate in the stamp design contest. Eligible species are any North American migratory waterfowl (swan, duck or goose), Hawaiian Koloa, Laysan Duck or Nene. Many students thoroughly research their topic to provide themselves with better background information and assist them with their project.

Kansas joined the state competition in 1992.

Money raised by the sale of Federal Duck Stamps funds the purchase and leasing of waterfowl habitat.  Since 1934, Federal Duck Stamps have generated more than $671 million that has been used to preserve over 5.2 million acres of waterfowl habitat in the United States. Many of the more than 538 national wildlife refuges have been paid for all or in part by Duck Stamp money. Federal Duck Stamps are sold for $15 in many post offices across the country. You can also buy Federal and Junior Duck Stamps on the Internet and at many sporting goods and outdoor-gear stores.  The money raised from the sale of Junior Duck Stamps funds scholarships and promotes conservation education.

More information on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Junior Duck Stamp program may be found on their web site: http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck/ArtContest.htm      

Draw a duck and win a trip to Washington, D.C.!  What a deal!

The national winner of the Junior Duck Stamp contest wins a free trip to Washington, D.C., along with a $5,000 scholarship. A pretty amazing prize package for drawing a picture of a duck! Of course, while only one lucky student will receive this honor, every K-12th grade student in Kansas - and the U.S. - has the opportunity to paint or draw their favorite duck, goose, or swan and vie for the top spot.

The Top 100 winners in Kansas - 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention winners - will receive a congratulatory prize package, plus ribbon and certificates. Everyone who submits an entry receives certificates of participation and appreciation.

Draw a duck (or goose or swan) and maybe YOU can win the trip to Washington, D.C. and the $5,000 scholarship. You can't win if you don't draw!  Don't delay - the deadline for submitting your Junior Duck Stamp entry is March 15, 2010!

  The deadline for submitting an entry for 
  the 2010 Junior Duck Stamp contest is March 15, 2010. 

For an idea how the competition works, click this icon to download the 2009 brochure,
which includes the rules and an entry form.
(NOTE: The file size is 1.4 megabytes,
which can be a lengthy download on a slow connection.)

Contact Lorrie Beck (see below) if you live in Kansas and want further information.
If you do not live in Kansas, find your state coordinator by clicking here.

(On a Windows system, the best way to download the file is to right click on the link and choose "Save Target As" to save it to your hard drive, then open it from there.  You will need Acrobat Reader to view this file.  If you don't have that software already, you can get it for free from Adobe.)

JUDGING THE ENTRIES
Our panel of judges chooses three 1st place, three 2nd place, three 3rd place, and 16 Honorable Mention entries for each of the 4 age groups (K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12) for a total of 100 awardees.

ALL original artwork (except the Best of Show, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention winners) is returned by mid-April. Every student who submitted an entry will receive a certificate of participation.

The Best of Show original artwork is sent to Washington D.C. for the national competition, then becomes part of the national travelling exhibit and is not returned until June of the following year.

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will receive their original artwork, ribbon, certificate, and a small prize package at an award ceremony on Saturday, May 2 at 1 p.m. at the Great Plains Nature Center.  The artwork, ribbon, certificate, and prizes will be mailed to those unable to attend the award ceremony.  The top Conservation Message winners (see below) will also be invited to the award ceremony on May 2.

The 64 Honorable Mention winners will receive their original artwork, ribbon, and certificate no later than the end of April.

Color copies of the Best of Show, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention winners will be made and they will be displayed at various venues around the state, including the State Fair.

Please contact me if you have any questions. 

For the 2009 competition, a record 1,107 pieces of artwork were submitted from 22 Kansas public schools, 7 private schools, 8 home schools or home projects, 2 art studios, and one recreation center. Entries were submitted in 4 age categories (Group 1: K-3rd grade; Group II: 4th - 6th grade; Group III: 7th - 9th grade; and Group IV: 10th - 12th grade).

These entries were judged by a panel of waterfowl enthusiasts, professionals and artists.

Judges for 2009:
Jim Reid - The Coleman Company (sponsor)
Marc Murrell - Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks
Dan Severson - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge
Bob Gress - Great Plains Nature Center
Mary Werner - Newman University - Director of Visual Arts

Christina Stockton, a 15-year old home-schooled student from Wichita,
captured “Best of Show” honors for Kansas in the judging on
Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

Her colored pencil drawing of a pair of mallards will represent Kansas in the national Junior Duck Stamp competition on April 22 at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.  Christina’s entry will compete alongside the other 49 states’ “Best of Show” entries.

The first place national winner receives a $5,000 scholarship, a free trip to Washington D.C., and has his or her entry made into the current year's Junior Duck Stamp, which is sold nationwide. Proceeds from the sale of the $5.00 stamp go to fund conservation education and art scholarships.

Where to see the winning entries.

Kansas Junior Duck Stamp Exhibit Tour Schedule - 2009

The Kansas Junior Duck Stamp Contest winners for 2009:

Conservation Messages allow students to articulate in words the things they have learned, and explain why waterfowl, wetlands, and nature are important to them.

The Best of Show for 2009 was created by
Christina Stockton, who is home-schooled in Wichita.
She depicted a pair of mallards with colored pencils.

Congratulations Christina!

Christina's entry will vie with the other 49 states' Best of Show
in the national Junior Duck Stamp competition
at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. on April 22.

The first place winner in the national competition
receives a $5,000 scholarship and has his or her design
made into the current year's Junior Duck Stamp!

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