Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Contest
ListedCompetition
- Award
- Published national awards: $1,000 first, $500 second, $200 third, and $200 for the conservation message winner. The 2025-26 brochure includes a free First Day of Issue trip for the national art winner and one parent/guardian. Final 2027 national award/travel terms are not posted. State prizes vary.
- Timeline
- Feb 1, 2027Enter through your state of legal residence, by its postmark deadline. Confirm the current date with your state coordinator. Published 2027 examples: Maryland
- Mar 1, 2027Maine . The complete 2027 state/national schedule is not confirmed on the national page.
- How to apply
- Mail original hand-illustrated 9 x 12 inch horizontal artwork, less than 1/4 inch thick, to your state coordinator, with a signed entry form attached to the back. Grades 7 to 12 must include the artistic reference form. Depict an eligible native North American duck, swan or goose; no traced/copied images, photography, computer-generated/printed art, lettering, signatures, borders, frames or mats. An original short conservation message is encouraged, not required. State Best of Show entries advance nationally. The detailed brochure still carries the 2025-26 label; confirm the current state forms.
- What you'll need
- A finalist round or selection weekend
- Who can apply
- K-12 students at U.S./territory public, private, tribal or home schools; U.S. citizens abroad enter through their legal state of residence. National placement/monetary prizes require U.S. citizenship, resident-alien status or U.S. national status, with identity/residency documentation as requested. Foreign exchange students may be honored at state level but cannot advance as Best of Show. One entry per student; the preceding year's national first-place winner cannot enter.
- Good to know
- The national 2025-26 brochure grants FWS exclusive reproduction rights to the national winning design, promotional use of student names/art/photos without compensation, and a requirement for the winner to autograph stamps/products without charge. Artwork may tour and is not insured against loss/damage; keep a digital copy. Next-cycle national awards and updated detailed brochure are not published.
- Details
- Arts