Montrose artist wins 2014 duck stamp competition

A painting of a Canada goose painting by Thomas Moen of Montrose will be featured on the 2014 Minnesota Migratory Waterfowl Stamp, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said.

Moen’s painting was chosen from among 30 entries in the annual state duck stamp contest sponsored by the DNR. Moen also won the contest in 1998 for his painting of a Harlequin duck and in 2007 for his painting of a lesser scaup.

The other finalists were Stephen Hamrick, Lakefield, second place; Michael Pangerl, Minneapolis, third place and Timothy Turenne, Richfield, fourth place.

The five-member panel of judges included David Andersen, University of Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; Carrol Henderson, DNR nongame wildlife program supervisor; Mark McNamera, Minnesota Waterfowl Association; Tom Cooper, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Joe Albert, Outdoor News.

The $7.50 state duck stamp is required of all Minnesota waterfowl hunters age 18-64. Stamp sales generate about $700,000 per year for waterfowl habitat restoration and enhancement projects on state wildlife management areas and shallow lakes.

DNR offers no prizes for the stamp contest winner but the winning artist retains the right to reproduce the work. Each year the entries are limited to a predetermined species that breeds or migrates through Minnesota. The eligible species for the 2015 stamp design will be the Harlequin duck.

MN Junior Duck Stamp Winners Announced!

Last month, 18-year-old Cassidy Haggard of Park Rapids, Minn. won best of show honors at the 2013 Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Contest with her oil painting rendition of a Common Goldeneye. "Quack, quack! Pond Back!" was the winning conservation message submitted by 15-year-old Sophie Olund of St. Paul, Minn.

More than 400 entries were received and 100 winners were selected. Haggard's artwork along with Olund's message will advance to the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest to be held in April at the National Conservation Training Center, Shepardstown, WV.

Special Student honors go to 12-year-old Taylor Sue Rabehl of Wabasha, Minn. Her artwork will be the visual image for promoting the program for 2014. This year's recipient of the Minnesota Teacher Recognition was Kari Halker-Saather from St. Michael-Albertville Senior High School of St. Michael, Minn.

"Minnesota youth are sharing their artistic talents to conserve wildlife and educate others on the importance of our natural resources," said Mara Koenig, Minnesota Coordinator of the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program.

Contest judges included Wildlife Biologist Tom Cooper, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Environmental and Outdoor Education Coordinator Jeff Lederman, MN Department of Education; Assistant Regional Director David Scott, Migratory Birds & State Programs, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Art Teacher, Mary Pat Simons and Wildlife Biologist Nick Rowse.

The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program is a dynamic educational program designed to spark youth interest in habitat conservation through science, art, math, and technology. Students in kindergarten through high school are encouraged to interpret the natural world through artistic expression. By providing a basis for participation in the Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest, the activities encourage students to move beyond simply "learning about" wildlife and wildlife art to testing their abilities as wildlife artists.

For more information on the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program visit: http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck.

2011 MN Junior Duck Stamp Contest

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now accepting entries for the 2011 Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Contest, which is administered by Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). Entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2011.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have held a Jr. Duck Stamp Contest in Minnesota since 1993. Last year, Nick Buchal from Mahtomedi won the Minnesota contest and placed in the top 10 nationally with an oil painting of Green-winged Teals. The conservation message winner, Christopher Wreede from Litchfield is helping to promote awareness of the program through his statement, "A balance between Innovation and Conservation is the key to a balanced future."

This dynamic educational program uses both conservation and design principles to teach wetland habitat and waterfowl biology to students in kindergarten through high school. The program provides an opportunity for students to artistically express their knowledge of the diversity, interdependence and beauty of wildlife.

Students may submit artwork featuring one of the following species: whistling ducks, swans, geese, brant, dabbling ducks, diving ducks, sea ducks, mergansers, stiff tails, or Hawaiian ducks.

A full list of permitted species is available online at http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck. Judging will be open to the general public, and will be begin at 9:00 am on March 21 at Refuge’s Bloomington Visitor Center. Artwork entries will be judged on the basis of original design, anatomical accuracy, artistic composition and suitability for reproduction on a 1” by 1.5” stamp.

During the contest, students will be judged in four groups according to grade level: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Three first, three second and three third place entries, along with 16 honorable mentions will be selected from each group. Contest judges select a “Best of Show” from the twelve first place winners, which will be submitted to the Federal Duck Stamp Office and entered into the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest held in April at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Pennsylvania. Along with the art, a conservation message will be selected from each state’s submission. The top three winners in art and conservation message of the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest receive scholarships.

The first place art from the national, contest is used to create a National Junior Duck Stamp each year. The Junior Duck Stamp is available for $5 from the U.S. Postal Service and from many National Wildlife Refuges. Proceeds from the sale of the stamps support conservation education and provide awards and scholarships for participating students, teachers and schools.

A downloadable entry form and information on contest rules and regulations for teachers and supervising adults can be found online at http://www.fws.gov/jrduck. For additional information or if you have questions regarding your student’s or school’s participation in the Junior Duck Stamp contest, please contact your Junior Duck Stamp State Coordinator, Mara Koenig at 952-858-0710, mara_koneig@fws.gov. Entries and reference forms should be postmarked by March 15, 2011 and mailed to:

c/o Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
3815 American Blvd E.
Bloomington, MN 55425