TN Junior Duck Stamp Winners

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TENNESSEE JUNIOR DUCK STAMP WINNERS
by Steve McCadams
www.stevemccadams.com

Campbell County High School student Joshua Lester from LaFollette has won top honors in the 2004 Tennessee Federal Junior Duck Stamp art competition held March 30 at the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. Joshua's "Best of Show" entry of a flock of mallards entitled "Migrating Mallards" was designed in acrylic paints.

Also entered in Tennessee's tenth Junior Duck Stamp Contest were over 883 individuals in four different age group categories. The other eleven finalists and first place winners in their category included Emily McKee, Andrew Collier, Angad Bindra, Sara Hester, and Ryland Guthrie of Dyersburg, Waverly Rushing of Newbern, Soyean Ahn of Franklin, Erik Woody of Dayton, Angela Rhoads of Jonesborough, Nicholas Stephens of Dyer, and Lauren Pollard of Chattanooga.

Ribbons, plaques, and other prizes will be presented to the top 100 winners at an awards ceremony at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville on May 15 at 10:00 am. Mr. Lester will receive a $1000 scholarship, provided by philatelist Mrs. Jeanette Rudy along with other prizes including a framed 2003 Federal Duck Print.

The contest was sponsored by Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge in partnership with Tennessee Conservation League and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Judges were Wally Brines with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Andy Davis of Ducks Unlimited, Johnny Gibson, professional waterfowl guide, Bub Edwards of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Phil Craig of the Tennessee Conservation League.

In April Joshua Lester's artwork moved on to the national competition in Washington D.C. to be judged along with the winners from the other 50 states. A pair of fulvous whistling ducks painted by Adam Nisbett, a 17 year old from Missouri, was selected as the national winner and will be used as the design for the 2004-2005 Junior Duck Stamp.

Not only an art contest, proceeds from the sale of the Federal Junior Duck Stamp provide scholarships and awards to participants. A Junior Duck Stamp curriculum guide available to educators focuses on conservation through the arts. Students, teachers and their schools are recognized through the program, and they and the wildlife resource all benefit.

The 36 First, Second and Third Place winners will be on display at locations around the state throughout the following year. For more information about this program, display locations or to purchase a Junior Duck Stamp, call the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge at 731-642-2091.

Steve McCadams
is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area. He has also contributed many outdoor oriented articles to various national publications.

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