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ND – The North Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Program set a record for student participation. There were 1,394 students in grades K-12 that participated in this wetland and waterfowl conservation program according to Jackie Jacobson the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Manager.
Marielle Villarin, an 18 year old student from Valley City was voted as the student with the most meaningful conservation message. Marielle wrote “The future of wildlife is in the hands of this generation.” The conservation message judges found this to be a very thought-provoking message for all people who love our state’s natural resources. Marielle’s conservation message will go on to compete at the National level, where the winner will receive $200.
The ring-necked duck, a beautiful diving duck seen on the prairies, has been selected by judges to be the 2015 ‘Best of Show’ in the North Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Contest, sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Above art work by Emery Dobitz, the 17 year old Best of Show winner from Killdeer, ND, used acrylic paints for her presentation of the ring-necked duck in a wetland habitat. Emery also wrote a conservation message explaining what she learned about wetland conservation and the importance of conserving habitat for wildlife – her message is: “Conserving wildlife habitat is important to me, because I feel that we as people need to take care of the beautiful world that we live in.’’
Above photo is Emery Dobitz a junior at the Killdeer Public School, and credits her family and her art teacher in school for encouraging her to utilize her artistic abilities. Emery said “my mom is a really good artist, and my teacher, Cherie Roshau, had a lot of pictures of waterfowl and they both encouraged me to enter the Junior Duck Stamp Contest.” In her free time, Emery enjoys painting, crafting, hanging out with friends, camping, and fishing.
On April 17th, Emery’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 National Training Conservation Center in West Virginia. The first place winner of the national contest will $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.
Above photo is 13 year-old Fischer Ackerson, Sherwood, ND, received Runner-Up Best of Show honors. Fischer featured a beautiful green-winged teal, a dabbling duck that can be seen in the prairie wetlands of North Dakota. The artwork utilized both colored pencil and watercolors.
Above photo is Fischer Ackerson’s green winged teal artwork.
Jackie Jacobson, Visitor Services Manager at the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge says the North Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Banquet and Awards Ceremony will be held for all first, second, and third place winners, and the conservation message winner, at the Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck, on Saturday, May 2.
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.
Jacobson says 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. Below are the results of the Junior Duck Stamp competition.
First, second and third place winners in the four age groups are:
1st Place – Group 1 (Grade K-3)
Gabe Dawson – Bismarck
Emma Sabo – Leeds
Hannah Dorrheim – Bismarck
1st Place – Group 2 (Grade 4-6)
Tyson Tomlinson – Sawyer
Daniel Schumacher – Linton
Isabel Sieg – Kenmare
1st Place – Group 3 (Grade 7-9)
Fischer Ackerson – Sherwood (Runner-up Best of Show)
Kaitlynn Kinkead – Sherwood
Tanner Thomsen – Valley City
1st Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12)
Emery Dobitz – Killdeer (Best of Show)
Lance Apalacio – Valley City
DJ Elstrom – Valley City
2nd Place – Group 1 (Grade K-3)
Everett Fedje – Crystal
Bailee Hager – Karlsruhe
Mathew Graue – Devils Lake
2nd Place – Group 2 (Grade 4-6)
Emerson Falk – Hankinson
Lucas Hunskor – Newburg
Gavin Boersma – Dickinson
2nd Place – Group 3 (Grade 7-9)
MaKenna Knight – Valley City
Jaycie Rau – Cartwright
Noelle Thompson – Valley City
2nd Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12)
Mikey Meester – Valley City
Marielle Villarin – Valley City (also Conservation Message winner)
Rebekah Peterson – Valley City
3rd Place – Group 1 (Grade K-3)
Ashton Knutson – Mountain
Connor Hurtt – Hoople
Ethan Bro – Bismarck
3rd Place – Group 2 (Grade 4-6)
Megan Zimmer – Kenmare
Lita Prellwitz – Towner
Bailey Taves – Alexander
3rd Place – Group 3 (Grade 7-9)
Ariel Neros – Valley City
Sophie Lind – Mandan
Patience King – Valley City
3rd Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12)
Marissa Turrubiates – Valley City
Madison Tiedman – Minot
Megan Tichy – Tower City
Honorable Mention Winners Include:
Group 1 (K-Grade 3)
Hayliegh McWeeney – Kenmare
Cole Larman – Hoople
Hannah Myrdal – Edinburg
Frankie Duff – Hoople
Savanna Freeman – Bismarck
Jayse Gullickson – Hoople
Jack Zimmer – Kenmare
Kylie Stein – Minot
Kyler Nelsen – Leeds
Ashley Mosser – Leeds
Logan Strokland – Kenmare
Kristen Huhta – Adams
Elle Tiedman – Minot
Madison Sobolik – Hoople
Garrett Halldorson – Mountain
Daejon Moore – Velva
Group 2 (Grades 4-6)
William Willson – Minot
Tianna Dwyer – Sidney
Sierra Skar – Kenmare
Lindsy Dawson – Bismarck
Madison Britton – Kenmare
Faith McCutchen – Tolley
Kortni Medlang – Kenmare
Caleb Schneider – Devils Lake
Sarah Dorrheim – Bismarck
Dawson Mills – Bismarck
Abby Post – Hankinson
Sydnie Grager – Sykeston
John Fischer – Leeds
Zane Miller – Kenmare
Bo Thingvold – Columbus
Lance Hunsker – Newburg
Group 3 (Grades 7-9)
Ryley Moore – Berthold
Shelby Thoreson – Fingal
Emilee Fisher – Valley City
Hunter Baer – Garrison
Bradon Miller – Lakota
Kayla Triebold – Oriska
Noah Christman – Berthold
Gabriella Galvan – Tioga
Devin Nelson – Valley City
Adam Seay – Berthold
Alora Woodruff – Garrison
Angela Larson – Valley City
Emerson Meidinger – Valley City
Mariah Brekke – Turtle Lake
Haley Jensen – Valley City
Rylee Harmer – Columbus
Group 4 (Grades 10-12)
Breanna McDonald – Valley City
Kayla Smith – Valley City
Alexa McCulloch – Valley City
Sierra Munro – Valley City
Ashley Durheim – Valley City
Jazzlyn Statema – Valley City
Abigayle Brown – Valley City
Madison Jewett – Valley City
Chase Sundlie – Valley City
Tabatha Branam – Valley City
Megan Weshnevski – Valley City
Madison Capman – Valley City
Madisen Anderson – Valley City
Katie Clark – Valley City
Tanaya Leifson – Valley City
Hannah Tiedman – Minot
Five judges gathered at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge on March 25 to make the tough decisions – Randy Kreil- Bismarck, Jill Gackle-Garrison, Keith Frankki-Lidgerwood, Nevada Miller-Bismarck, and Colette Guariglia-Bottineau.