OXFORD – Oxford High School art student Courtney Barnhart was awarded “Best of Show” in the 2006 New York State Junior Duck Stamp Design Competition. Barnhart’s entry, a pastel drawing featuring a swimming Fulvous Whistling duck, was also awarded an Honorable Mention in the national competition. This accomplishment has only been achieved by one other New Yorker in contest history. This year approximately 27,000 students throughout the United States submitted entries for judging.

Each spring, thousands of students nationwide create artwork with the hopes of it being placed on a stamp. Each state’s “Best of Show” winner is submitted to the Duck Stamp Office and entered into the national competition held in Washington, D.C. The first place design from the national competition is used to create a Junior Duck Stamp. The stamps are sold by the U.S. Postal Service in order to help support conservation and education programs nationwide.