On March 24th, the judging contest for the State of Alabama entry in the Junior Duck Stamp Contest to find this Fall's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2009-2010 duck stamp was held. There were several hundred entries from the entire State of Alabama even though the 2008 entry numbers were higher.

(NOTE: Photos 11 to 17 shows a spotting of the entries from the 4 Groups and part of the judging process {which took several several hours to complete}.)

This contest is made up of art work from any school/student in Alabama. There are 4 group entry levels.....one level is K thru 3rd grade; then 4th, 5th, and 6th grade; then 7th, 8th, and 9th grad; and the last group is 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. Each group receives first place, second place, and third place with honorable mentions for several of the entries. One over all winner (known as Best of Show) is chosen from the tops winners from each of the four groups. The Best of Show is sent to the National Contest in Washington, D.C. as the State of Alabama entry to compete against the other 49 State entries and territories. The winner of the National Contest for 2009 will receive $5,000.00. For information concerning this annual contest vist the USFWS website at www.fws.gov/juniorduck.

This was the first year that the website was the main location for details on the contest with only a contest card being sent to the local school's art department. (Previous years a booklet and contest form was sent out.) Hopefully the the Sponsors and the Service will incorporate additional means to modivate this conservation and art effort with the art teachers and school principals to provide a means for students to enter this event which has real monetary and character benefits.