Over 1,800 kindergarten through fifth-grade students from 21 public, private and homeschool groups took part in the 35th conservation art competition held by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.

Statewide winners in the four grade divisions include:

Division 1: Kindergarten  

• First: Truett Elrod, Rockmart Homeschool Friends, Rockmart
• Second: Liam Crook, Timothy Road Elementary, Athens
• Third: Zoe Murray, Kay R. Pace School of the Arts, Jonesboro

Division 2: First-second grades   

• First: Harley Brownfield, Rockmart Homeschool Friends, Rockmart
• Second: Sophia Ortega, Kay R. Pace School of the Arts, Jonesboro
• Third: Riva Kanka, Timothy Road Elementary, Athens

Division 3: Third-fourth grades

• First: Waylon Bowden, Esther F. Garrison School of the Arts, Savannah
• Second: Eleanor Meixner, Timothy Road Elementary, Athens
• Third: Hannah Johnson, Frances Meeks Elementary, Richmond Hill

Division 4: Fifth grade

• First: Harrison Reese, Kay R. Pace School of the Arts, Jonesboro
• Second: Soomin Jeon, Welch Elementary, Newnan
• Third: Ella Boyd, Firefly Homeschool Community, Athens

Participants entered at the local school level with drawings and paintings of native Georgia plants and animals depicting the 2024-25 contest theme “Colors of the Wild: Blend in or Stand Out?” Students were encouraged to research the ways wild animals use camouflage or warning coloration to survive. The students then represented what they learned in their artwork.

Entries were judged on aspects such as theme relevance, originality and the quality and impact of the artwork. First-place school-level entries proceeded to the state contest at the State Botanical Garden, a unit of Public Service and Outreach at the University of Georgia in Athens.

Winning submissions are showcased on the DNR Wildlife Resources Division’s SmugMug site at https://bit.ly/3Yj3uBV.

The State Botanical Garden is a home to a variety of collections, displays, trails and programs designed to delight and educate teachers, children and the public. The garden also administers the Connect to Protect program, which emphasizes that even small native-plant installations can help maintain biodiversity in urban and suburban landscapes. Learn more at https://botgarden.uga.edu or call (706) 542-1244. The public garden is a gift to visitors and Georgia residents. Parking and admission are free.

The Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest is sponsored by the DNR Wildlife Resources Division, the State Botanical Garden and The Environmental Resources Network, or TERN, friends group of DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section. For more information, visit https://georgiawildlife.com/PosterContest.

Georgians can support important conservation, recreation and education efforts as well as other programs for Georgia’s nongame wildlife by purchasing or renewing a bald eagle or monarch butterfly license plate or donating directly to the Wildlife Conservation Section. This agency depends largely on fundraisers for its mission to conserve wildlife, native plants and natural habitats. Learn more at https://gadnr.org/license-plates and https://georgiawildlife.com/donations.