Troy Truesdell of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, was recently awarded the 2006 Art of Conservation Stamp Award, national Best of Show honors and the People's Choice Award during the 8th Annual Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Expo.
"This is an awesome honor that I did not expect,” says Truesdell, a graduating senior at Simley High School. “I'm a walleye and largemouth bass fisherman and I learned about the need to conserve fish habitat through participating in the State-Fish Art Contest. To win a 'hat trick' of national awards is just a bonus."
Tom Mackin, President of Rapala, personally congratulated each of the winning artists prior to the awarding of prizes including Rapala rods and reels, gift certificates for
art supplies from Cheap Joe's Art Stuff, blue ribbons and other items.
“At Rapala, we are interested in supporting innovative programs that bring young people into the fishing community, and the Wildlife Forever Statet-Fish Art Contest is helping us reach a new generation of anglers,” Mackin says. “We are pleased to be sponsors and provide Rapala rods, reels and lures so the 2006 Expo attendees can enjoy America's fisheries on a local river or lake."
The 8th Annual Art of Conservation Stamp design was unveiled during the Awards Ceremony in Mall of America's Central Rotunda. The stamp design was chosen by the State-Fish Art Contest judges as “art gallery quality”. The new commemorative stamp sheet featuring the artwork of Truesdell and the 2005 design winner Tiara Jenkins was made available to the public. As the federal government uses the proceeds from the federal duck stamp to fund wetlands conservation, sales of Wildlife Forever’s Art of Conservation stamps have funded conservation education and fishery projects across America.
“With the Art of Conservation stamps and the help of the U.S. Postal Service,” says Grann, “the State-Fish Art Expo will spread the good news of conservation while generating funds for fisheries conservation.”
National Best of Show winners:
Grades 10-12 1st Place Troy Truesdell Inver Grove Heights, MN
2nd Place Tiara Jenkins Pittsburg, MO
3rd Place Celeste Governale Fort Bridger, WY
Grades 7-9 1st Place Brie Jenkins Pittsburg, MO
2nd Place Diane Yu Olney, MD
3rd Place Joshua Knepper Conyers, GA
Grades 4-6 1st Place Stella Tu Northbrook, IL
2nd Place Caden Jones Alpine, UT
3rd Place Eric Kang Livingston, NJ
2006 Art of Conservation Stamp Award:
Troy Truesdell Inver Grove Heights, MN
2006 People's Choice Award
Troy Truesdell Inver Grove Heights, MN
About the State-Fish Art Contest:
The Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest encourages young artists nationwide to create an illustration of their state-fish and a written composition on behavior, habitat, and efforts to conserve it. Entries are categorized by grade level: 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Up to three winners are selected from each state and invited to Mall of America in Minnesota to be honored at the State-Fish Art Expo.
