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Local youngster places in state drawing competition

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ST. IGNATIUS – Local artist Lina Sturman, 9, was recognized by the state of Montana for her excellent bird drawing skills.

She entered the Federal Junior Duck Stamp drawing contest and tied for first in her age group for Montana with her watercolor crayon and pencil drawing of a banded trumpeter swan.

“I saw a lot of them at Ninepipe,” Lina said of her decision to draw a swan. She took photographs of the birds and used them to draw a single swan swimming in a pond with cattail accents. She chose to draw swan number 80X.

“It really was banded,” she said of the real bird.

More than 27,000 students from all over the country enter the Junior Duck Stamp drawing contests in their states each year. The national winner’s drawing is put on the Junior Duck Stamp that is produced annually by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to raise revenue to support environmental education for students. 

Lina’s drawing won’t be on the stamp this year. The national winner has to place first in the state, overall, and then take first in the nation, but she says she might win the national competition someday. 

“I read about the girl that won nationals at 16,” Lina said. “She started the contest at 9.” 

This year, when she looked to see if her name was on the list in her age group, Lina thought she might receive an honorable mention. 

“I thought ‘darn, I’m not an honorable mention,’” she said. “Then, I saw that I tied for first place. I was excited.” 

She says she loves art and is often entering contests. She won a bookmark design contest at the Ronan Public Library in the past. She said she likes to focus on nature. She included a statement with her drawing that said: “Birds were here before us – let’s protect them while we can.” 

Lina’s drawing was copied and will be displayed in the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge with other winners. The original copy was returned to her. She received a blue ribbon for first place and a certificate for participation.

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