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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – An acrylic painting of the Northern Shoveler, with its long spoon-like bill and vibrant breeding plumage, has been selected by judges to be the 2017 Best of Show winner 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 Megan Tichy from Tower City, ND. Megan used acrylic paints to depict a drake Northern Shoveler, and titled her painting ‘Small Boy in a Big Lake’.
Megan has competed in the North Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Program every year since she was in the 1st grade. Her father heard about the contest and encouraged Megan to enter. “I sat down and drew a Canada goose in literally 2 minutes and sent it in.” Megan said. “I actually won third place.” At a young age, Megan was so excited! She was so impressed with the awards banquet and honors she received that entering the contest became an annual goal for Megan. Her artwork has placed in the top 25 earning her a place at 1st, 2nd, 3rd or Honorable Mention in most of the 12 years she has participated in the program. In 2016, Megan won Runner-up Best of Show and now, the final year she is eligible to participate has won the highest state honor as 2017 Best of Show. Megan will graduate this year from Maple Valley High School and plans to pursue higher education in the Arts.
In addition to an invitation to the annual awards ceremony in Bismarck this year, Megan will receive a $100 cash award for winning the North Dakota Best of Show. On April 21st, Megan’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 the Charleston Music Hall in beautiful Charleston, SC. 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 D.J. Elstrom, Valley City, ND, received Runner-up Best of Show honors with her colored pencil drawing featuring a pair of swimming Cinnamon Teal. D.J will graduate from Valley City in May and has also been a tough competitor. Elstrom earned 1st place in her freshman and sophomore years and 2nd in her junior year and Runner-up Best of Show to finish out her senior year. D.J. also plans to continue her education in Art.
Katelyn Ortmann, Karlsruhe, ND, was voted as the student with the most meaningful conservation message. Katelyn wrote “One cannot say they love nature if they refuse to participate in conserving it.” Katelyn’s conservation message will go on to compete at the National level, where the winner will receive $200.
The North Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Program, in its 24th year, had 1,430 students in grades K-12 participate in this wetland and waterfowl conservation program. Five judges were selected to meet in Devils Lake, ND on March 22 and make the final decisions. Judges included: Mark Fisher, Mike Jacobs, David Paukert, Jesse Bekker, and Doug Darling.
A North Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Awards Ceremony will be held for all first, second, and third place winners and their families, at the ND Heritage Center and Museum in Bismarck, on Saturday, May 6, 2017. 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., Friends of Sullys Hill and wildlife clubs from throughout North Dakota. The winning artwork will be exhibited throughout the state at national wildlife refuge events, zoos, shopping malls, schools, Fargo Scheels, the State Capitol, and other locations throughout the year. This year’s winning artwork will also be posted on the North Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Program Facebook page. A Facebook account to needed to access the photos.
First, second and third place winners in each of the four age groups:
1st Place – Group 1 (Grade K-3)
Ethan Bro – Bismarck
Vivian Lunden – Alexander
Owen Tichy – Tower City
1st Place – Group 2 (Grade 4-6)
Angela Chen – Devils Lake
Bailee Hagar – Karlsruhe
Mikaela Woodruff – Garrison
1st Place – Group 3 (Grade 7-9)
Fischer Ackerson – Sherwood
Sydney Nelson – Valley City
Daniel Schumacher – Linton
1st Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12)
Megan Tichy – Tower City (BEST OF SHOW)
D.J. Elstrom – Valley City (RUNNER-UP BEST OF SHOW)
Devin Anderson – Valley City
2nd Place – Group 1 (Grade K-3)
Levi Bro – Bismarck
Damian Herman – Brinsmade
Elizabeth Fedje – Hoople
2nd Place – Group 2 (Grade 4-6)
Emily Larman – Devils Lake
Cambre Robertson – Devils Lake
Ethan Schmitt -Towner
2nd Place – Group 3 (Grade 7-9)
Megan Beyer – Litchville
Catherine Meester – Valley City
Scarlett Parlier – Garrison
2nd Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12)
Rachel Borg – Valley City
Chase Sundlie – Valley City
Nita Warcken-Petersen – Valley City
3rd Place – Group 1 (Grade K-3)
Francisco Duff – Hoople
Aubrey Heck – Mandan
Ryker Stuberg – Churchs Ferry
3rd Place – Group 2 (Grade 4-6)
Iliana Arias – Towner
Emily Bryn – Rugby
Brady Reilly – Hoople
3rd Place – Group 3 (Grade 7-9)
Michael Borysewicz – Larimore
Sarah Tonole – Dickinson
Tayla Ybarra – Alexander
3rd Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12)
Hannah Dockter – Valley City
Taylen Jorissen – Valley City
Kayla Triebold – Oriska
Honorable Mention winners in each of the four age groups:
Group 1 (K-Grade 3)
Noah Allen – Jamestown
Tammie Armet – Lansford
Cody Busch – Jamestown
Khloe DeMontigny – Leeds
Anna Lee Dewald – Jamestown
Kaden Fabian – Jamestown
Allison Feickert – Mandan
Grant Haagenson – Leeds
Evyn Jacobson – Leeds
Cami Knutson – Kenmare
Raelyn Knutson – Mountain
Jack Langerud – Edinburg
Carter Oberg – Hoople
Theodore Otto – Crystal
Luke Schwab – Lisbon
Willow Seelye – Cayuga
Group 2 (Grades 4-6)
Logan Anderson – Hankinson
Luke Crosby – Bowbells
Zach Drury – Devils Lake
Cole Fahnestock – Willow City
Chastin Fox – Devils Lake
Karley Gange-Gerhardt – Mandan
Alex Jacobson – Bowbells
Nevaeh Juntunen – Westhope
Kort Krebsbach – Mandan
Ethan Millner – Hankinson
Kaylee Mocko – Devils Lake
Isabella Moen – Hoople
Charlee Schenfisch – Makoti
Rhiley Sevik-McKee – Devils Lake
Morgan Sherman – Carrington
Kaden Wass – Devils Lake
Group 3 (Grades 7-9)
Alliya Anderson – Valley City
Robert Bartz – Richardton
Ramsey Brown – St.Michael
Riley Cronin – Larimore
Renee Cross – Alexander
Alayna Dressler – Richardton
Jenna Frelich – Devils Lake
Elizabeth Gazeley – Valley City
Everet Gunther – Devils Lake
Bradyn Modine – Alexander
Chantz Rivinias – Richardton
Emily Schmidt – Gladstone
Alexis Smith – Valley City
Ty Stromberg – Larimore
Logan Weber – Velva
Addison Ziegler – Devils Lake
Group 4 (Grades 10-12)
Hanna Aberle – Valley City
Lance Apalacio – Valley City
Katie Clark – Valley City
Bianca Depra – Valley City
Haley Jensen – Valley City
Angela Larson – Valley City
Makenna Knight – Valley City
Tanaya Leifson – Valley City
Brenna McDonald – Valley City
Marlen Meester – Valley City
Allison Nelson – Valley City
Ashton Schonert – Litchville
Isaak Skramstad – Valley City
Jasmine Smith – Valley City
Noelle Thompson – Valley City
Tanner Thompson – Valley City