White Bear Lake, MN – The wait is over – Wildlife Forever and Title Sponsor Bass Pro Shops are thrilled to announce the 25th Anniversary Art of Conservation® Fish Art Contest National Winners. Judging took place on Friday, April 28th, with a panel of esteemed judges from around the country. Winners were chosen from over 4,500 entries from around the world.
“Seeing the incredible entries from thousands of students across the country and the world is truly inspiring. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of teaching our youth about the value of our natural resources and the need to protect them for generations to come,” said Addison Motta, Education and Communications Manager at Wildlife Forever.
Artists also competed for international recognition and specialty awards, like the Guy Harvey Shark Award, the International Game Fish Association Conservation Award, the Invader Crusader Award, and the Western Native Trout Award. Creative writing pieces were eligible for state awards and the Fish Habitat Writing Award.
“We are proud to support the next generation of artists and conservationists who share our passion for the outdoors and protecting our natural resources. We believe that art has the power to inspire positive change, and we are excited to see these young artists using their talents to raise awareness about the importance of fish and aquatic conservation,” said Bob Ziehmer, Senior Director of Conservation for Bass Pro Shops.
And the winners are…
Best of Show Award: Grace Cao, Guadalupe Bass – Texas