Seeking student artists to create 2021 Iowa Junior Duck Stamp

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now accepting entries for the 2021 Iowa Federal Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) art contest from students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. While entering the JDS contest, students have the opportunity to learn about waterfowl and their habitat, and then create an image of an eligible North American waterfowl species.

School groups and informal groups can enter this contest, or a student may enter individually. All information needed to participate can be found on the website: www.fws.gov/juniorduck.

Iowa entries for 2021 Contest must be postmarked by March 15, 2021, and mailed to: DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge; ATTN: Junior Duck Stamp; 1434 316th Lane; Missouri Valley, IA 51555.

The 2020 Iowa Junior Duck Stamp winner was Tevka Lackmann, an 18-year-old from Norwalk. Her entry was a mallard duck drake done in colored pencils. Tevka’s entry is now traveling around the United States with all the state Best of Show winners.

The Iowa entries are judged by a panel of five judges with 100 students receiving awards. The Best of Show from Iowa is submitted to the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest in Washington, D.C. All state Best of Show winners are judged at the national contest with the national overall winner being chosen from those entries.

The national winner becomes the 2021-2022 Junior Duck Stamp, with cash prizes for the national first-, second- and third-place winner. The Junior Duck Stamps are sold for $5.00 with the proceeds from the sale of the stamp being returned to the program for environmental and conservation education. Graduating seniors can inquire about scholarship opportunities.

Those who have questions about the Junior Duck Stamp should contact the Iowa Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator Alyssa Lu by calling 402-676-3652 or emailing alyssa_lu@fws.gov.