March 29, 2024

Iowa Junior Duck Stamp Contest designs on display

The work of the 2013 Iowa Junior Duck Stamp Contest winners will be on display through July 27 at the Newton Public Library.

The exhibit includes 36 pieces of artwork of Iowa’s first-, second- and third-place winners. Kathryn Weets, an 18-year-old from Lost Nation, was awarded the 2013 Iowa Best of Show winner. Kathryn’s entry was a pair of wood ducks done in colored pencil. Her original artwork was sent to Washington, D.C., to participate in the national contest and is now traveling the United States as part of the best of show winners from all 50 states.

Two Jasper county students have artwork on display: first-place winner Rebecca Schippers of Monroe and second-place winner Rachel Stafford of Prairie City.

The Junior Duck Stamp Contest is modeled after the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly known as the “Duck Stamp.” The competition is held annually and this year more than 34,000 students competed across the nation. All students in grades K-12 may participate in the contest. The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program in Iowa, managed by the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City, is a conservation program designed to teach students about waterfowl conservation and wetlands habitat through an art and science-based curriculum.

Entries for the 2014 contest will be accepted anytime but must be postmarked by March 15, 2014. Please mail entries to the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 399, 9981 Pacific Street, Prairie City, IA 50228. For more information about the contest, contact Doreen Van Ryswyk at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge at (515) 994-3400 or visit www.fws.gov/duckstamps.