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ND – (NewsDakota.com) An 18 year old Valley City artists won the Best of Show during the North Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Program on March 23rd.
More than 13 hundred students in grades K-12 that participated in this wetland and waterfowl conservation program.
An American wigeon, a beautiful and colorful duck that can be observed in our shallow prairie wetlands, has been selected by judges to be the 2016 ‘Best of Show’ in the North Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Contest, sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The artist who created the painting is 18 year old Cassidy Fulton from Valley City, ND. Cassidy used acrylic paints to depict a drake wigeon, and titled her painting ‘Secluded Serenity’.
Cassidy is a senior at Valley City High School, and has competed in the ND Junior Duck Stamp Program for 3 years. Mrs. Kelly Callahan, art instructor at the high school, works with her students each year on this unique assignment that encourages students to learn about waterfowl and habitat conservation.
When asked what she enjoys doing in her free time, Cassidy responded, “I enjoy drawing and sketching, writing music, playing my ukulele, being with friends, and I’m dedicated to my school work.” Cassidy also expressed that her future plans may include an art program at Valley City State University or pursuing her interest in sign language interpretation.
On April 22nd, Cassidy’s artwork will compete at the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest, along with other state and U.S. territory entries. The contest will be held at J.N. ‘Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel, FL. The first place winner of the national contest will receive $1,000 and have their art entry made into a Junior Duck Stamp that is sold for $5, with proceeds from these stamps supporting conservation education programs. The second place winner will receive $500 and the third place winner $200.
Seventeen year old Megan Tichy, Tower City, ND, received Runner-up Best of Show honors. Tichy featured a pair of loafing mallards on the shoreline of a prairie pothole. Megan used colored pencil and pastel to create her drawing.
Kyler Nelsen, Leeds, ND, was voted as the student with the most meaningful conservation message. Kyler wrote “Our environment, our responsibility, our future.” Kyler’s conservation message will go on to compete at the National level, where the winner will receive $200.
Five judges gathered at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge on March 23 to make the final decisions. Judges included: Marshall Johnson, Fargo; Jeff Hoff, Jamestown, Kent Sundseth, Wahpeton, Rick Schumann, Washburn, and Sandy Johnson, Bismarck.
The North Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Awards Ceremony will be held for all first, second, and third place winners, and the conservation message winner and their families, at the ND Heritage Center and Museum in Bismarck, on Saturday, May 7. Winning students will receive an invitation to the banquet and awards ceremony in the very near future. They will also receive ribbons and prizes donated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, Prairie Pothole Partners, Audubon Refuge Partners, Inc., and wildlife clubs from throughout North Dakota. The winning artwork will be exhibited throughout the state at national wildlife refuge events, zoos, shopping malls, Fargo Scheels, the State Capitol, and other locations throughout the year.
First, second and third place winners in the four age groups are:
1st Place – Group 1 (Grade K-3)
Holdyn Jacobson – Leeds
Gabriel Coleman – Baldwin
Victoria Crotty – Neche
1st Place – Group 2 (Grade 4-6)
Ella Wallock – Hankinson
Jake Cargo – Towner
Lucas Hunskor – Newburg
1st Place – Group 3 (Grade 7-9)
Fischer Ackerson – Sherwood
Rose Zeltinger – Valley City
Daniel Schumacher – Linton
1st Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12)
Cassidy Fulton – Valley City (BEST OF SHOW)
Megan Tichy – Tower City (RUNNER-UP BEST OF SHOW)
Noelle Thompson – Valley City
2nd Place – Group 1 (Grade K-3)
Ryker Stuberg – Leeds
Hank Bodine – Velva
Owen Tichy – Tower City
2nd Place – Group 2 (Grade 4-6)
Hannah Follman – Towner
Sydney Friedt – Carrington
Talayna Alberts – St. Michael
2nd Place – Group 3 (Grade 7-9)
Isaiah Lindstrom – Valley City
Sophie Lind – Mandan
Bradon Miller – Lakota
2nd Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12)
John Combs – Valley City
DJ Elstrom – Valley City
Jasmine Smith – Valley City
3rd Place – Group 1 (Grade K-3)
Emma Hove – Adams
Levi Bro – Bismarck
Sam Kittelson – Hoople
3rd Place – Group 2 (Grade 4-6)
Jarrick McGarvey – Leeds
Mikaela Woodruff – Garrison
Allison Jarrett – Carrington
3rd Place – Group 3 (Grade 7-9)
Megan Zimmer – Kenmare
Tyson Tomlinson – Sawyer
Carly Fulton – Valley City
3rd Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12)
Marissa Turrubiates – Valley City
Tanaya Leifson – Valley City
Makenna Knight – Valley City
Honorable Mention Winners Include:
Group 1 (K-Grade 3)
Trevor Hillukka – Pembina
Caden Papenfuss – St.Thomas
Arabelle Tuchscherer – Donnybrook
Kayel Miller – Kenmare
Ethan Bro – Bismarck
Tyson Sundby – Carrington
Elizabeth Fedje – Hoople
Kaden Nelsen – Leeds
Hannah Myrdal – Edinburg
Anne Stroklund – Kenmare
Darrec McGarvey – Leeds
Gavin Aufforth – Bowbells
Peyton Helwig – Kenmare
Anarah Dalzell – Neche
Jacob Odden – Carrington
Jayden Broadwell – Carrington
Group 2 (Grades 4-6)
Kathryn Sisk – St.Thomas
Madison Sobolik – Hoople
Sadie Keller – Hankinson
Anna Malmberg – Great Bend
Angela Chen – Devils Lake
Isabella Moen – Edinburg
Luke Steeves – Sherwood
Karli Winzenburg – Kenmare
Kaden Wass – Devils Lake
Elizabeth Dulmage – Leeds
Thomas Graue – Devils Lake
Renee’ Cross – Alexander
Payton Hochhalter – Carrington
Joshua Zaharia – Pembina
Sloane Follman – York
Ava Ettinger – Saint Thomas
Group 3 (Grades 7-9)
Quincy Plenty Chief – Parshall
Jaycie Rau – Cartwright
Morgann Kramer – Devils Lake
Lindsy Dawson – Bismarck
Kaitlynn Kinkead – Sherwood
Makayla Gould – Valley City
Candace Sobota – Sawyer
Alora Woodruff – Garrison
Becca Thompson – Valley City
Corynna Turnquist – Alexander
Heili Burgardt – Minot
Richard Peterson – Valley City
Casey McMahon – Minot
Brice Rosco – Alexander
Emily Kolschefski – Butte
Maddy Fraunfetter – Powers Lake
Group 4 (Grades 10-12)
Rebekah Jordan – Valley City
Mikey Meester – Valley City
Sarah Montecuollo – Valley City
Haley Jensen – Valley City
Katie Clark – Valley City
Tabatha Branam – Valley City
Madisen Anderson – Valley City
Heidi Mundfrom – Valley City
Shelby Thoreson – Fingal
Devin Nelson – Valley City
Chase Sundlie – Valley City
Prakash Pathak – Grand Forks
Taylen Jorissen – Valley City
Angela Larson – Valley City
Hannah Hager – Valley City
Morgan Suneson – Velva