The entry submitted by a student from Sioux Center was named Best of Show Overall as the Iowa State Coordinator and DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge proudly announce the winners of the 2024 Iowa Junior Duck Stamp Program Art Contest. Winning that top overall distinction was Sevriena Postma with her submission “Canada Goose.”
Students from around the state put significant time and effort into learning about their North American waterfowl and their habitats, then creating masterful artworks from this knowledge to enter the contest. With five judges to choose the winners in deep deliberation, the best of show and following winning placements were decided for each grade category after competing with 280 other students who participated in the 2024 contest. Best of Show Conservation Message was awarded to Judith Williams, Dyersville whose message was “Every acre of clean earth is a gift to our future- every planet, bird, and fish a ripple that will reverberate for an age.” Greyson’s Award went Avery Nelson of Muscatine.
The several area winners among the Age Category Placements included 10-12 First Place Winners: Macey VerHoef, Sioux Center; 10-12 Honorable Mention Winners: Dawson Trobaugh, Sioux City; 7-9 Third Place Winners: Beau Brauhn, Sioux Rapids; 7-9 Honorable Mention Winners: Johnny Madsen, Sioux Rapids.
The National Junior Duck Stamp is sold at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center during open hours. All proceeds from the Junior Duck Stamp go back to the program helping fund the program and the resources it provides to students throughout the United States of America.
DeSoto & Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuges are located north of Omaha. DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is located south of U.S. Highway 30 between Missouri Valley, IA and Blair, NE. Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, managed by staff at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, is located east of U.S. Highway 75 near Ft. Calhoun, NE. Check their websites, www.fws.gov/refuge/desoto or www.fws.gov/refuge/boyer-chute, for refuge updates. Like them on Facebook – search for DeSoto and Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuges. For more information, please contact 712/388-4800 or email the refuge at desoto@fws.gov