Local students place in Keep Montana Green regional art contest

Press release

LEWISTOWN - Montana scenes with wildlife and firemen illustrated the need for wildfire prevention using a variety of slogans and designs in the 2018 Keep Montana Green art contest, including multiple entries by students from the Hi-Line and Golden Triangle.

  "We had more schools than ever before in our region participate in this year's contest,'" said Clive Rooney, area manager of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Northeastern Land Office in Lewistown, where the posters were judged. "For this year's contest, we received 753 entries from 33 teachers in 26 schools across our region, which is made up of 13 counties."

The Keep Montana Green Association has sponsored 57 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 artworks remind 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," said Rooney. "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 DNRC 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, Crosmer said.

  "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 753 entries submitted to the Northeastern Land Office will be considered for prizes at the state level. State winners will be announced in April.

"Having 753 entries from 26 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 explained.

"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 website, 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 2018 northeastern regional Montana winners include:

Primary Division, Kindergarten-3rd grades:

First place - Johnnie Schultz, second grade, Home School, Grass Range;

Second place - Blair Peterschick, second grade, Highland Park Elementary School, Lewistown;

Third place - Aliyah Espejel, second grade, Lincoln-McKinley Elementary School, Havre;

Honorable Mentions - Leighton Stroh, second grade, Roy Public Schools and Taryn Reid, third grade, Geraldine School.

Intermediate Division, 4th-6th grades:

First place - Michael Moore, sixth grade, Havre Middle School;

Second place - Jersi Morse, sixth grade, Havre Middle School;

Third place - Severin Heimbirgner, fifth grade, F.E. Elementary School, Big Sandy;

Honorable Mentions - Alyssa Williams, sixth grade, Havre Middle School, Amber Pearson, fifth grade, Malta Elementary School, and Morgyn Adkins, sixth grade, Havre Middle School.

Junior Division, 7th-9th grades:

First place - Alexa Fishell, ninth grade, Scobey High School;

Second place - Brooklyn Nason, eighth grade, Lewistown Junior High School;

Third place - Jasper Fairchild, seventh grade, Lewistown Junior High School;

Honorable Mentions - Hailey Jackson, Brooke Weinheimer and Avery Terry, seventh grade, Lewistown Junior High School.

Senior Division, 10th-12th grades:

First place - Tawnee Robertson, 12th grade, Froid High School,

Second place - Kassidy Dahl, 12th grade, Scobey High School;

Third place - Taylor Baldry, 12th grade, Scobey High School;

Honorable Mentions - Aniston Sampson, 12th grade, Poplar High School, Ethan Anderson, 12th grade, Scobey High School, and Molly Danielson, 11th grade, Froid 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," said Beckman. "Be sure to keep up-to-date on all things wildfire prevention and Keep Montana Green through Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/keepmtgreen, our Web site at http://www.keepgreen.org or Twitter at @KeepMTGreen."