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Ruby Locy is surrounded by colored pencils as she ponders her work. Photo by Roger Whittle, The Watertown Current.
A group of young artists gathered at the Redlin Art Center on Saturday, February 21, to create entries for the 2026-27 Junior Duck Stamp Contest.
The Federal Junior Duck Stamp is an art competition sponsored by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for students to draw or paint a duck. The national winner’s design is used to create the Federal Duck Stamp. Saturday’s event was meant to give the young artists an introduction to the program and get them started on their artwork.
“This is the fourth year we’ve done this, but it’s the first time we’ve held it at the Redlin Art Center,” said Cassy Benke, a Watertown-based naturalist with the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department.
In past years, the Duck Stamp event was held over Christmas break at Pelican Lake Recreation Area.
Artwork of local youth will be entered into the state Duck Stamp competition, with the best of show advancing to the national level.
Madison Grimm, of Wallace, has won the national Duck Stamp competition three times, the first as a 6-year-old. Her father, Adam, won this year’s adult Federal Duck Stamp contest.
Elizabeth Sicard of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service shows the young artists the colors on a duck. Photo by Roger Whittle, The Watertown Current.
The young artists who gathered at the Redlin Art Center on Saturday were given an introduction to drawing ducks by Elizabeth Sicard, a wildlife refuge specialist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. She showed photos and taxidermy mounts of different species of ducks, pointing out various things judges look for when selecting winners.
Participants could get started on their artwork at the Redlin Art Center on Saturday and finish them later at home.
“It’s kind of cool to host this event at the home of the best wildlife art on the planet.” Behnke said. “They’re surrounded by inspiration.”
The Junior Duck Stamp contest has been held since 1994. The adult version has been held since the 1930s.
Last year’s winning Junior Duck Stamp winner was a northern shoveler painted by 18-year-old Catheryn Liang of Sugar Land, Texas.
Junior Duck Stamp display coming
Last year’s Junior Duck Stamp Competition artwork will be on display at the Redlin Art Center during the month of March. Anyone can stop in to see the art and be inspired by the talent of young South Dakota artists. Admission to the Redlin Art Center is always free. The center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ruth Nielsen works on her entry. Photo by Roger Whittle, The Watertown Current.
Abby Maag gets started on her duck drawing. Photo by Roger Whittle, The Watertown Current.
Amelia Locy and Brookson Collins get ready to create their pieces of art. Photo by Roger Whittle, The Watertown Current.
