ROCK SPRINGS — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Friday announced a pair of wood ducks was selected to appear on the 2015-2016 Federal Junior Duck Stamp. The design for the new stamp, painted by 17-year-old Andrew Kneeland of Rock Springs, Wyo., was chosen by a panel of judges at the national Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest, held at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, W.Va.

The acrylic entry, which won the Wyoming State Junior Duck Stamp Contest, was judged the winner among best-of-show entries from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This year, a total of more than 24,000 entries were submitted to the 53 state Junior Duck Stamp contests. Proceeds from sales of the $5 Junior Duck Stamp support environmental education.

“I congratulate our winning artist and all the talented young people who participate in the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program each year,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “After 22 years, the Junior Duck Stamp Program remains one of the Service’s hallmark efforts to connect youth with nature and inspire budding wildlife artists.”

Isabelle Kapoian, 16, of Bedford, N.H., took second place with an oil painting depicting a tundra swan.

Third place went to Bradley Gray, 16, of North Ogden, Utah, for his depiction of a pair of green-winged teal.

“Nature painted us the wetlands, but it is we who must conserve and appreciate the art.” 

-The 2015 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation Message Contest winner was 14 year-old Sherry Xie from Virginia

“This is quite an accomplishment for Andrew, this is the first time a student from Wyoming has won the national competition,” said Katie Theule at the Seedskadee & Cokeville Meadows NWR Complex, coordinator for the Wyoming contest. “Andrew’s work will be printed on the 2015 Junior Duck which will be released in June.”

Click here for a gallery of the Best Junior Duck Stamp art of 2015.

-From a post on County10.com