Regional winners listed in Keep Montana Green

From DNRC

LEWISTOWN - Montana scenes of wildfire and wildlife coupled with creative slogans illustrate the need for wildfire prevention in the 2019 Keep Montana Green art contest.

"We had some exceptional entries that demonstrate how creative and artistic Montana youth can be," said Clive Rooney, area manager of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Northeastern Land Office in Lewistown, where the posters were judged. "For this year's contest, we received 672 entries from 33 teachers in 13 schools across our region of 13 counties in northeastern Montana."

The Keep Montana Green Association has sponsored 58 art contests since 1961 with the mission of creating a lasting interest in preventing wildland fires in Montana's youth, as well as adults.

"The artwork reminds the public to be more careful with fire and fire-causing hazards while enjoying the state's forests, campgrounds and rangelands, as well as in everyday life," Rooney said. "If these prevention efforts help eliminate just one fire, which helps saves homes, rangeland and money, then they are well worth it."

Each year, Montana DNRC and Keep Montana Green Association ask kindergarten through 12th-grade students to participate in the art contest.

This year's theme, "Prepare, Prevent, Protect," and the Keep Montana Green organization, provide educators with a curriculum for teaching students about fire safety, prevention and conservation, said Tim Crosmer, east side training officer for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Fire Bureau. Crosmer helps coordinate the Keep Montana Green art contest in the DNRC Northeastern Land Office.

The art entries are judged regionally where first, second, third and honorable mention placings are decided. Then, those entries are sent to Missoula, to be judged with five other regions' winners. The state winners receive ribbons, cash prizes and statewide recognition, explained Crosmer.

"Our central and northeastern Montana area schools have had a strong showing in the state contest for the past several years," said Rooney. "We wish to praise the students for their outstanding artwork and creativity, as well as their teachers for taking the time to incorporate the Keep Montana Green Art Contest into their daily lessons."

Twenty-three of the 672 entries submitted to the Northeastern Land Office will be considered for prizes at the state level. State winners will be announced March 22.

"Having 672 entries from 13 schools is awesome, and clearly demonstrates the teachers' support and commitment to wildfire education," said Crystal Beckman, executive director of the Keep Montana Green Association from Missoula. "Thank you to everyone who participated."

The student-created artwork helps increase public awareness of the dangers of human-caused wildland fires. The artwork may be used to generate advertisements, brochures, and other promotional products, Beckman said.

"The Keep Montana Green artwork could be used for billboards, sent out as a traveling art show and/or used for other wildfire prevention messaging promo products," she said. "We also post the winning posters on our Web site, Facebook page and Twitter, as well as utilize them in a Keep Montana Green calendar for the upcoming year to share the wildland fire prevention message across Montana and beyond."

The 2019 northeastern regional Montana winners include:

Primary Division, Grades K-Three:

First Place - Whit Brandon, second grade, Highland Park Elementary School, Lewistown; Second Place - Blaine Petzak, second grade, Highland Park Elementary School, Lewistown; Third Place - Archer Schwomeyer, first grade, Garfield Elementary School, Lewistown; Honorable Mentions - Ava Eldred, second grade, Highland Park Elementary School, Lewistown; Emerson Fladagar, third grade, Scobey Schools, and Johnnie Schultz, third grade, home school, Grass Range.

Intermediate Division, Grades Four-Six:

First Place - Carson Fishell, sixth grade, Scobey Schools; Second Place - Camille Keeley, sixth grade, Havre Middle School; Third Place - Sydalee Alexander, sixth grade, Havre Middle School; Honorable Mentions - Katelyn Barnard, sixth grade, Havre Middle School; Ivy Cole, fifth grade, Scobey Schools, and Kylee Mangold, sixth grade, Havre Middle School.

Junior Division, Grades Seven-Nine:

First Place - Aryella Andring, eighth grade, Froid Public School; Second Place - Keanna Sondergaard, ninth grade, Scobey Schools; Third Place - Kamea Fourstar, ninth grade, Wolf Point High School; Honorable Mentions - Jenna Hodik, seventh grade, Moore Public School; and Elizar Southard, seventh grade, Lewistown Junior High School.

Senior Division, Grades 10-12:

First Place - Alexis Culbertson, 10th grade, Poplar High School; Second Place - Brooke Schwenke, 11th grade, Big Sandy High School; Third Place - Faith Gasvoda, 11th grade, Big Sandy High School; Honorable Mentions - Jaylyn Cline, 12th grade, Jozlyn Baumann, 10th grade, and Amanda Cline, 11th grade, all from Big Sandy High School.

Headquartered in Missoula, the Keep Montana Green Association sponsors the annual art contest in cooperation with the DNRC.

"Thank you to all the participants and their teachers for making Keep Montana Green's wildfire prevention program such a success," Beckman said. "Be sure to visit keepgreen.org for all things wildfire prevention."