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The Kentucky Junior Duck Stamp judging was held at Clark’s River National Wildlife Refuge in Benton, Ky. Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery’s EE/Outreach Specialist Marsha Hart, along with volunteers Randy and Peggy Loyd, Kurt and Wendy Schultz, attended and helped in the event. Marsha Hart assisted Stacy Hayden, Kentucky Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator, with organizing the media the judges used to cast their votes, and placing pieces into correct prize groups once they had been judged. Volunteers Randy and Peggy, Kurt and Wendy stood behind tables covered with displayed art work and could answer questions from the judges about what species the duck art depicted, but no other communication about the art was allowed. They also removed pieces that were not selected, and placed new entries to be judged on the tables as the judging progressed and the age categories changed.
There were over 900 pieces of art submitted from K-12 students all over Kentucky. Out of these 900, there were several honorable mentions, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place winners in each age category, but only one Best of Show. To Thomas Humm is the 2022 Best of Show for Kentucky Junior Duck Stamp winner. In addition to the Best of Show piece of art, a Best of Show Conservation Message is also chosen. Jaclyn Bondurant is the 2022 Kentucky Junior Duck Stamp Conservation Message winner: “Conserve today, for beautiful tomorrows.”
Kentucky Junior Duck Stamp Contest is a great way to get kids involved in the outdoors. The contest teaches students about wetlands, migration, conservation, waterfowl, and land stewardship. This program has been used in not just art and science classes, but writing, history, gifted, and special needs classes as well. The Kentucky Junior Duck Stamp program is a collaborative effort by Clark River NWR, Wolf Creek NFH and Kentucky Ecological Service Office. These offices have worked together as one Service for many years.
