Young Missouri Artist Wins the Federal Jr Duck Stamp Art Contest

MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 24, 2006 – Rebekah Nastav's painting of a redhead duck (Aythya Americana) taking a morning swim won the 2006-2007 Junior Duck Stamp art contest sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Nastav's stamp will be available for $5 on June 1, 2006.
The 15 year-old Nastav is home-schooled and has been studying art with Susan Harding for several years. Nastav, from Amoret, Mo., entered for two years in a row and won the Missouri State Junior Duck Stamp Contest earlier this year. Each state holds competitions from February to mid-April, and the winners of each state contest compete in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest. Judges for the Junior Duck Stamp Contest included Sherrie Russell Meline, winner of the 2006 Federal Duck Stamp art competition.
	Proceeds from the junior duck stamp contribute to environmental education efforts and awards for contest winners.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest migrates to Memphis again this fall. Hosted by Ducks Unlimited, the contest will be Oct. 6-7 at Memphis College of Art. A Family Day will be held Saturday, Sept. 30, and Rebekah Nastav has been invited to attend as a guest artist. Duck stamp sales have raised more than half a billion dollars to conserve some 5 million acres of wildlife habitat in the United States. It is one of the most successful conservation programs ever initiated.