The results are in! Beth Pieper of Lovettsville, Virginia, is the Best of Show winner of the 2005 Virginia Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest. This wonderful acrylic on canvas entry depicted a unique, detailed side view of a female mallard's lower body.

As newly appointed host of the Virginia Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge received over 500 entries during the beginning of the year from K-12 students across the state. The artwork illustrated the students' knowledge and appreciation of North American waterfowl. In March, a panel of five judges, local decoy carver Reggie Birch, Gretchen Knapp (NPS), Woody Lovelace (Ducks Unlimited), Alison Penn (USFWS), and local wildlife artist Nancy Richards West, selected Pieper's entry as the overall winner in the Virginia contest. Later in April, it traveled to the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest held in conjunction with the 35th Annual Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition in Ocean City, Maryland.

A fun time was had by all refuge staff, judges, and volunteers involved in the contest. The strength of the program is that it not only includes the annual art contest but also provides students with a broad exposure to migratory waterfowl and motivates them to take an active role in conserving these species. Thanks to everyone who made this event a great success. See you again next year!

Laurel Faith
Outdoor Recreation Planner