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2017 Florida Junior Duck Stamp winner announced at ‘Ding’

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Judges Nancy Tome, John Brennan, Nate Caswell, Brandi Couse and John Bennight with Malfa's winning portrait. ASHLEY GOODMAN

Faith Noelle Malfa of Palm Harbor won Best of Show during the Florida Junior Duck Stamp competition that was held at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on March 30.

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge Supervisory Refuge Ranger and Southeast Region 4 Coordinator of the Junior Duck Stamp program, Toni Westland said that 2,882 students from all over the state entered this year.

“Hopefully, they’re learning something besides art. It goes over so many disciplines. It’s not just art, it’s science and language arts,” Westland said.

Malfa, who won Best of Show, will advance to the National Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest on Friday, April 21, in Charleston, South Carolina at the Charleston Music Hall where she will compete with other students from across the U.S.

Malfa’s winning portrait was a gadwall duck that was painted with acrylic against a blue sky.

The top three artists at the national level and the winner of the conservation message will receive scholarships. The $5 stamp is a highly-coveted collector’s item and all funds from the Junior Duck Stamps will go towards environmental education.

The judges for this year were comprised of Nate Caswell, Jim Bennight, Nancy Tome, John Brennan and Brandi Couse.

The competition at “Ding” was split up into four categories: kindergarten through third grade, fourth through sixth grade, seventh through ninth grade and 10th through 12th grade. There were 25 winners from each group but only one was picked to advance to the national competition. The image had to be of either a native North American duck, swan or goose.

Westland said that the Duck Stamp program was initially started in Sanibel by cartoonist Jay Norwood Darling. “Ding” began doing the Junior Duck Stamp program in 1989.

“I think it’s great that we continue the tradition with “Ding” Darling’s legacy and that it continues every year. It started here and I think it’s important it stays here, even with the change in staff, it should continue to be a priority. Florida hasn’t won, but I think we got a great chance this year,” Westland said.