Florence-Carlton High School and Victor School art students are southwestern Montana regional winners of the Montana Department of Natural Resources’ 60th annual Keep Montana Green Art Contest.
FCHS art educator Lee McBride said he made the art contest on wildfire prevention an extra class assignment for the past two years.
“We had the same thing happen last year with three different kids, but right when COVID happened [and schools were taught remotely to prevent the spread of the coronavirus],” McBride said. “Everyone gets a pass from last year.”
The DNRC art contest provides educators with educational information for teaching students about wildfire safety, prevention and conservation. The students then create posters to help the public be aware of the dangers of uncontrolled wildland fires and to be more careful with fire and fire-causing hazards in forests, campgrounds, rangelands and in everyday life.
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The posters are first judged in regional contests and the top three in each category will be forwarded to the state-level contest where winners receive cash prizes and special recognition.
“I was really happy with the results again this year,” McBride said. “[The art for the contest] could be any medium like watercolor, colored pencil, or acrylic paint. The medium doesn’t matter as long as it has something to do with fire prevention.”
The winners for the senior division, 10th-12th grades, are 1st – Hannah McLean, 12th grade, with an acrylic painting; 2nd – Dylan Kidd, 11th grade, with acrylic painting; and 3rd – Faith Stevens, 11th grade, with a watercolor painting.
“I had 27 students participate, there was money involved which helps motivate kids,” McBride said. “It is a K-12 contest and since I’m teaching high school, I only see the art in the senior division.”
Victor School also did well in the contest with three southwest region winners selected.
In the primary division, kindergarten-3rd grades, 2nd place was third-grade student Sawyer Rebhan with art teacher Jennifer Ogden; 3rd place was third-grade student Liam Dunn with art teacher Jennifer Ogden.
In the intermediate division, 4th-6th grades, 3rd place was sixth-grade student Rayane Heiland with art teacher Jennifer Ogden.
According to the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation, Keep Montana Green has sponsored 60 poster contests involving Montana students since 1961.
“Celebrating the 75th anniversary of Keep Montana Green, this year’s art contest added exciting new changes, including doubling of all prize money for statewide winner competitions, new 2nd and 3rd place overall positions in the statewide competition, and a new coloring book division for this year only,” said their press release. “The artwork will be featured in a special coloring book to commemorate Keep Montana Green’s 75th anniversary.”
For more information on Keep Montana Green and the 60th annual Art Contest, visit https://www.keepmontanagreen.com.