Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Winners Announced, Including Several Area Winners

Pine Island sure has a lot of artistic talent. Actually, all of southeast Minnesota does, as more than 450 students, grades K-12, participated in this year's Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Program. A gorgeous, flying drake bufflehead has been selected by judges to be the 2016 ‘Best of Show’ in the Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Contest, sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Eugene Lee, age 17, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota used acrylic paints and titled her winning artwork 'Spread Your Wings.' This is her third year participating in the Junior Duck Stamp Contest. Lee’s conservation message is: “The beauty of nature cannot be artificially replicated, even by the most talented artist. This is why we respect nature.”

On April 22, 2016, Lee’s artwork will compete at the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest, along with other state and U.S. territory entries. The winner of the national contest will have their entry made into the next Junior Duck Stamp, with proceeds from these stamps going to support conservation education programs.

Keenan Schultz, age 18, from Dexter, Minnesota, received 'Runner-Up - Best of Show' honors. Schultz featured a hooded merganser in graphite titled 'Early Spring.' Schultz’s conservation message is: “It baffles me at how the majority of society pays no attention to our impact on our wildlife and environment.”

The Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Awards Ceremony will be held for all first, second, and third place winners, as well as the conservation winner and student honor winner at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center in Fergus Falls, Minnesota on May 7, 2016.

Winning students will receive an invitation to the ceremony, where they will also receive ribbons and prizes donated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Ducks Unlimited. The winning artwork will be exhibited at National Wildlife Refuge System events across the state of Minnesota and various other locations throughout the year.

First, second and third place winners in the four age groups are:

1st Place - Group 1 (Grade K-3)
Emelia Nelson, Minneapolis
Usha Ratha, St. Cloud
Jayna Hartzell, Pine Island

2nd Place - Group 1 (Grade K-3)
Audrie Simpson, Pine Island
Michael Taggart, Oronoco
Ally Boe, Pine Island

3rd Place - Group 1 (Grade K-3)
Zoe Zosel, Oronoco
Lyndee Northrop, Pine Island
Paw Soe, Clarks Grove

1st Place - Group 2 (Grade 4-6)
Erika Lahti, Fergus Falls
Logan Mentjes, Pine Island
Gabriel Northrop, Pine Island

2nd Place - Group 2 (Grade 4-6)
Ashley Kim, Woodbury
Carl Nelson, Minneapolis
Bethany Dick, Pine Island

3rd Place - Group 2 (Grade 4-6)
Micah Bermel, Fergus Falls
Kaden Haarstad, Rothsay
Ana Smith, Fergus Falls

1st Place - Group 3 (Grade 7-9)
Yeram Park, Blaine
James Cho, Cottage Grove
Talia Mentjes, Pine Island

2nd Place - Group 3 (Grade 7-9)
Elliott Maas, Watertown
Ashley Kim, Woodbury
Syra Tancnin, St. Michael

3rd Place - Group 3 (Grade 7-9)
Simon Kim, Woodbury
Tyler Rosenberg, Farmington
Alicia DeAntoni, St. Michael

1st Place - Group 4 (Grade 10-12)
Eugene Lee, Eden Prairie (Best of Show)
Elizabeth Cho, Cottage Grove
Keenan Schultz, Dexter

2nd Place - Group 4 (Grade 10-12)
Miranda Dehmer, St. Michael
Josh Tutland, St. Michael
Bethany Becker, Rogers

3rd Place - Group 4 (Grade 10-12)
David Garcia, Austin
Gage Nelson, Inver Grove Heights
Yana Vizenor, St. Michael

Honorable Mention Winners Include:
Group 1 (K-Grade 3)
Ellie Koenig, Eagan
Kiley Passow, Pine Island
Kaitlin Griffith, Albert Lea
Ella Schmoll, Pine Island
Benjamim Bloxham, Pine Island
Grant Stockwell, Harland
Sophia Wachowiak, Oronoco
Elena Hartung, Oronoco
Yuri Orth, Moorhead
Eve Pfannknch, Zumbrota
Ashley Otto, Moorhead
Braxton Moss, Pine Island
Olivia Cordes, Zumbrota
Nevaeh Wacholz, Albert Lea
Dakota Sabottka, Pine Island
Ethan Gerhart, Oronoco

Group 2 (Grades 4-6)
Abby Strege, Fergus Falls
India Ratha, St. Cloud
Josephine Noll, Pine Island
Avery Knutson, Erhard
Brandon Anderson, Fergus Falls
Kallie Karsten, Fergus Falls
Andrew Cross, Fergus Falls
Jaci Burtis, Owatonna
Hayden Sanchez, Fergus Falls
Ariana Noples, Fergus Falls
Hailey Haarstad, Rothsay
Hawon Park, Blaine
Avan Ehlert, Fergus Falls
Alexander Jensen, Erhard
Kaydence Knutson, Fergus Falls
Kylie Nelson, Fergus Falls

Group 3 (Grades 7-9)
Molly Wilde, St. Michael
Reed Fesenmaier, Albertville
Jacob Knutsen, Middle River
Danielle Burtis, Owatonna
Julian McClellon, St. Michael
Phoebe Holt, St. Michael
Lauren Olson, Farmington
Torianna Alexander, Cotton
Alexis Buegler, Farmington
Haylee Coulson, St. Michael
Emily Vlaminck, Farmington
Payton Allen, St. Michael
Abbygayle Almer, Meadowlands
Mason Pike, Pine Island
Hannah Zywicki, Proctor
Tommy Hamilton, St. Michael

Group 4 (Grades 10-12)
Julia Pieper, Albertville
Emily Ukestad, Inver Grove Heights
Dakota Kitto, Pine Island
Jackie Kasper, St. Michael
Amanda Rogers, Pine Island
Sydney Gifford, St. Michael
Royce Hoeper, Glenwood
Megan Kucera, Albertville
Bria Cameron, Plymouth
Emily Wirtanen, Saginaw
Teresa O’Sullivan, Albertville
Allison Wordes, Renville
Joseph Schneider, Farwell
Emily Houle, Brooklyn Park
Angela Behrens, Pine Island
William Prody, Fergus Falls

Learn more about the Junior Duck Stamp Contest.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.

All information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release.