State of Maine, 2007 Best of Show winning artwork by Brianna Dostie of Greene, Maine. Photo by Karrie Schwaab.

Maine Junior Duck Stamp Contest Judges (left to right) Bob Cash, Hara Harding, Betsy Stevens, Craig Ferris, and Kyle Noonan. Photo taken March 27, 2007 by Ward Feurt.

A watercolor painting by 15 year-old Brianna Dostie of Greene, Maine won Best of Show in the state competition of the 2006 - 2007 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest.  The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Wells coordinated the judging that was held on March 27 at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve.  

     Dostie, a student at Leavitt Area High School, entered a painting of a pair of wood ducks.  Her entry was chosen from the over 673 received from schools throughout Maine.  The Best of Show will be sent to Washington D.C. to compete with Best of Show winners from other states in the national contest on April 27.  Her artwork will also be included in an exhibit that will tour the United States in the coming year.  In addition to her first place and Best of Show ribbons, Dostie will receive prizes donated by Ducks Unlimited, L.L. Bean, the Wendell Gilley Museum in Southwest Harbor, and the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.

     The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service organizes the contest each year.  It is part of a program that teaches students in grades K-12 about wetlands and waterfowl conservation.  Modeled after the Federal Duck Stamp contest for adult artists, students create original artwork depicting North American ducks, geese or swans in their natural habitats.  First, second, third and honorable mention awards are given out in four age categories.

     Judges for this year's contest were: Craig Ferris, regional biologist with Ducks Unlimited; Betsy Stevens, retired environmental educator; Bob Cash, member of the York County Audubon Society; Hara Harding, gallery manager and assistant registrar with River Tree Center for the Arts; and Kyle Noonan, assistant communication director from Representative Tom Allen's office.

     The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would like to thank the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Ducks Unlimited, L.L. Bean and the Wendell Gilley Museum for their support of the Maine contest.