A talented young artist from Texas has taken top honors at the National Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest. A blue-winged teal by 17-year-old Nina Liang, will grace the 2026-2027 Junior Duck Stamp, which raises funds to educate and engage our nation’s youth in wildlife and wetlands conservation and outdoor recreation.
A panel of five judges chose the entry, painted in oil, from among 58 best-of-show entries representing U.S. states and territories.
“The Junior Duck Stamp Program is one of the Service’s hallmark efforts that helps youth learn about wetlands and waterfowl conservation and foster a lifelong connection with the outdoors. This program supports President Donald J. Trump’s priority to invest directly in youth and future career opportunities through learning,” said Service Director Brian Nesvik. “I offer my thanks and appreciation to all of our partners who help make this youth science and art education program a success including state agencies, local businesses and conservation organizations.”
The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program began in 1989 as an extension of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly known as the Duck Stamp. The first National Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest was held in 1993. The program encourages students to explore their natural world, participate in outdoor recreation activities and learn wildlife management principles. Approximately 3,000 Junior Duck Stamps are sold annually for $5 each.
Students in kindergarten through grade 12 participate in their annual state Junior Duck Stamp Program through their school, home, art studio or after-school group, or from a refuge, park or nature center. After learning about wetlands, waterfowl and wildlife conservation, they express their learning through a drawing or painting of a duck, goose or swan.
Students submit their artwork to their state, territory or district competition, and the Best of Show from each is then submitted to the National Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest, where a panel of five judges select the winning piece of art.
This top piece of art in the nation is featured on the Junior Duck Stamp, sales of which support educational programs and activities that nurture our next generation of conservationists.
Second place winner is Jisun Yoon, 14, from New Jersey, with an acrylic painting of a mallard hen.
Third place went to 14-year-old Thora Larson, from South Dakota, who entered a blue-winged teal painted in acrylic and oil.
In addition to the art contest, a Junior Duck Stamp Conservation Message Contest encourages students to express in words the spirit of what they have learned through classroom discussions, research, and planning for their Junior Duck Stamp Contest entries. This year’s winner is Iris Lovett, 13, from Wisconsin with the message: “The future of wildlife reflects our care – give ducks a place to land.”
“We are so honored to help run a program where young people artistically express their knowledge of the natural world through their art and their conservation messages,” said Assistant Director for Migratory Birds Jerome Ford. “Thousands of students across the nation take what they learn about wildlife, waterfowl and habitat conservation, and then turn that into a piece of personal art, which is then shared with all.”
This year, more than 13,000 young artists submitted entries to the Junior Duck Stamp contests around the nation. View the gallery of the 2026 Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest entries. Visit online for the complete contest results.
The Junior Duck Stamp Contest winner receives $1,000. The second place winner receives $500; the third-place winner receives $200; the Conservation Message winner receives $200.
You can buy Junior Duck Stamps online through the U.S. Postal Service and Amplex and at some national wildlife refuges. Proceeds from the sale of Junior Duck Stamps are used for recognition of individuals who submit winning designs in state or national competitions and to further activities related to the conservation education goals of the program.
The First Day of Issue for the 2026-2027 Federal Duck Stamp and Junior Duck Stamp is planned for June 26, 2026.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn, YouTube and Flickr.
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