An acrylic painting of a pair of Canada geese will represent Nevada in the 2018 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program art contest. The painting is the work of Mariah Bacon, a senior at Elko High School. Her artwork was chosen as “Best of Show” during a day-long judging session on March 23, at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center.
Bacon’s painting will compete with the other states’ winners in the National Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest next month in Bismarck, North Dakota. The national winner’s design will be made into the 2018-2019 Federal Junior Duck Stamp. The annual program, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), provides resources to educators to help students in grades K–12 learn about the outdoor world and their connection to waterfowl, wetlands and habitat conservation.
Mariah is the daughter of Carisa and Michael Anchondo of Elko. Her depiction of Canada geese was one of 425 entries to this year’s Nevada competition. This is Bacon’s second straight win, as her acrylic painting of a Northern Pintail duck won “Best of Show” in the 2017 art contest. Her sponsoring teacher is Patrick Long.
“We received some very good entries from throughout the state,” said Nevada Coordinator Jennifer Heroux. “The judges really had their work cut out for them.” Heroux manages Visitor Services for the Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
The judges for the 2018 Nevada competition were: Joe Barnes from the Nevada Department of Wildlife, Chris Sakmar from the Springs Preserve, Charles Stegner with the Red Rock Audubon Society, John Trimble with the Las Vegas Arts Commission, and Rob Vinson, manager of the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge.
The Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is a dynamic art and science program designed to teach wetlands habitat and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school and help reconnect youth with the outdoors. In Nevada, the program is facilitated by the Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Las Vegas.
The design that wins the national art contest graces that year’s Junior Duck Stamp and is sold by local national wildlife refuges, the U.S. Postal Service and Amplex Corporation for $5. All proceeds from the sale of the stamp are used to fund environmental education programs, reward students for their work, and expand the program. All program information can be found on the internet at www.fws.gov/juniorduck/.
In September 2018, Las Vegas will be the center of the universe for the adult version of the contest — the Service’s Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp) Program — as the only juried art contest sponsored by the federal government takes place at the Springs Preserve on September 14-15. For more information about duck stamps, visit www.fws.gov/birds/get-involved/duck-stamp.php.
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