“Conserve what we have today, so our kids can see what we have seen..”

                        ~Conservation Message Winner

~Adam Kleinschmidt, age15, Glenwood, MN

The results are in! Rachael Balsaitis, 15, from Cokato took Best-of-Show honors with a colored pencil drawing of a pair of Hooded Mergansers at this year’s Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Competition. The competition was held on March 21, at the Burnsville City Hall.

This year Minnesota set a record on number of students participating. There were over 1,225 entries from our talented students throughout Minnesota. The five judges assembled for the difficult task of selecting this year's winners were wildlife and waterfowl artists David Chapman and Joe Hautman; Al Netten, All Seasons Wild Bird Store; Steve Kufrin, retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife employee; and Mark Matuska, District Director for Congressman Mark Kennedy.

Rachael’s drawing will be sent to Washington D.C. for the National Competition, to be held on April 20. The piece selected as the national winner serves as the design for the Federal Junior Duck Stamp. The stamp sells for $5.00 and is considered a collectable. All proceeds from the sale of the stamps are used to support the Junior Duck Stamp Program. The student who wins the National Competition receives a $5,000 scholarship and a trip to Washington, D.C. for the Federal Duck Stamp Ceremony.

Minnesota’s 2006 First, Second, Third Place, and Honorable Mention winners will be honored at an awards ceremony on April 22 at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. The top 36 pieces of the Minnesota art will become part of a traveling exhibit which will be on display throughout Minnesota from May 2006 through February 2007.

In Minnesota, the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program is supported through funds and in kind contributions from US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Richfield Optimist Club, Duke & Duke Photography, a matching grant from the USFWS Challenge Cost Share Program, and individual contributions.

For more information, contact Mara Koenig at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Bloomington, Minnesota, phone, 952-858-0710.