Willows, Calif.— Artwork from 2,336 school-aged waterfowl artists throughout the state was judged during the 28th Annual California Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge on March 29. In California, the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program is facilitated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
A panel of 10 judges was tasked with selecting 100 winners. The artwork was judged in four grade groups: K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. From these groups, three first, three second, three third place and 16 honorable mention winners were chosen. Winning designs received ribbons and all entrants received a certificate of appreciation and awards.
One art design earned the distinguished title of California’s Best of Show, which was a hooded merganser by Ari Cho, age 16 from Rancho Palos Verdes. Her artwork will be submitted to Washington D.C. to compete with the other states’ Best of Show winners during the National Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest on April 20, 2018. The national winner’s design will be made into the 2018-2019 Federal Junior Duck Stamp.
The 2018 judges included: Beatrix Treiterer, Assistant Wildlife Refuge Manager at Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge; Dan Skalos, Environmental Scientist for the Waterfowl Program for California Department of Fish and Wildlife; David Tamori, College Board AP Studio Art Consultant; Gary Hansen, Council Member for the city of Willows and Glenn County Game Commission; Gary Link, Director of Public Policy for Ducks Unlimited; Jeff Volberg, Lobbyist for California Waterfowl Association; Jody Holzworth, Pacific Southwest Assistant Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Polly Wheeler, Assistant Regional Director of Refuges for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Sean Pirtle, Game Warden for California Department of Fish and Wildlife; and Curt McCasland, Project Leader for the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
This California Junior Duck Stamp Program is so successful because of the generous and supportive partners that provide the funding and manpower. Volunteers from the Sacramento NWRC, California Waterfowl, and other partner organizations worked on the daunting task of laying out all the artwork, tallying scores, and recording the 100 winners. Additional major sponsors for the program include the California Rice Commission, California Department of Water Resources, Pacific Flyway Decoy Association, Altacal Audubon Society, Central Valley Joint Venture, and other federal, state, private, and non-profit environmental conservation and education agencies.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information about our work and the people who make it happen, visit https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sacramento/ or connect with us via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.
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