Wildlife, outdoor recreation and mountainous scenes illustrated in the 2016 Keep Montana Green art contest recently educated regional judges on wildfire prevention using a variety of slogans and designs.

“We received 992 posters from 34 teachers in 24 schools across our region, which is made up of 13 counties,” said Tim Crosmer, East Side Training Officer for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) Fire Bureau. Crosmer helps coordinate the Keep Montana Green art contest in the DNRC Northeastern Land Office in Lewistown.

“This is the most participation we have ever received,” said Crosmer. “It’s awesome that more students are taking an interest in wildland fire prevention, and teachers are taking the time to teach it in their classrooms.”

The Keep Montana Green Association has sponsored 55 contests since 1961 with the mission of creating a lasting interest in preventing wildland fires in Montana’s youth, as well as adults.

Each year, Montana DNRC and Keep Montana Green Association ask K-12 grade students to participate in the annual contest.

This year’s theme, “One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire,” provides educators with a unit core for teaching students about fire safety, prevention and conservation, said Clive Rooney, Area Manager of the Northeastern Land Officer.

“The art entries 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,” he said.

The art entries are first judged regionally where first, second, third and honorable mention placings are decided. Then, those entries are sent to Missoula, Mont., to be judged with five other regions’ winners. The state winners receive ribbons, cash prizes and statewide recognition, explained Rooney.

“Our central and northeastern Montana area schools have had a strong showing in the state contest for the past several years,” he said. “We wish to praise the students for their outstanding artwork and creativity, and also their teachers for taking the time to incorporate the Keep Montana Green Art Contest into their daily lessons.”

Twenty-four of 992 entries submitted to the Northeastern Land Office will be considered for prizes at the state level. State winners will be announced on April 8.

“Having 992 entries is incredible, and clearly demonstrates the teachers’ support and commitment to wildfire education,” said Crystal Beckman, Executive Director of the Keep Montana Green Association from Missoula, Mont. “Thank you to everyone who participated.”

The student-created artwork and posters help increase public awareness of the dangers of human-caused wildland fires. The artwork and posters may be used to generate advertisements, brochures and other promotional products, Beckman explained.

“The Keep Montana Green artwork and posters 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 Web site, 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 2016 central and northeastern regional Montana winners include:

Primary age groups include, Kindergarten - 3rd grades: 1st place – Kalelee Henderson of Kim Russette’s third grade class at Rocky Boy Elementary School, Box Elder; 2nd place – Praysia Oxford, also of Russette’s second grade class; 3rd place – Eliza Tureck of Cindy Mapston’s third grade class at Denton Public Schools; and honorable mentions – Neala Fjeld of Kim Torgerson’s third grade class at Scobey Schools, Angelina Walter of Kendra Smith’s second grade class in Spring Creek Colony School, Lewistown and Marin Baker of Russette’s third grade class.

Intermediate Division, 4th-6th grades: 1st place – Audrina Williams of Jackie Lipp’s sixth grade class at Havre Middle School; 2nd place – Orion Thivierge, also of Lipp’s sixth grade class; 3rd place – Brianna Fair of Demrece Keller’s fourth grade class in F.E. Miley Elementary School, Big Sandy; and honorable mentions – Rhiana Christensen and Raygen Metcalf of Pam Welch’s sixth grade class at Medicine Lake School, and Caden Seaholm of Birdie Roat’s sixth grade class at Grass Range Public School.

Junior Division, 7th-9th grades: 1st place – Sadie Johnson of Shelly Wilmore’s eighth grade class at Roy Public School; 2nd place – Larisa Dale of Vivian Schultz’s ninth grade class at Wolf Point High School; 3rd place – Colter Deupree of Joanne Berry’s ninth grade class in Moore Public School; and honorable mentions – Aubree Handran and Nicole Woolett of Krystal Ferguson’s eighth grade class in the Lewistown Junior High School, and Zoe Delaney of Roat’s eighth grade class.

Senior Division, 10th-12th grades: 1st place – Chelysa Owens-Cyr of Vivian Schultz’s 11th grade class; 2nd place – Land Knudsen of Torgerson’s 12th grade class, 3rd place – Kobe Ralston of Torgerson’s 11th grade class; and honorable mentions – Shalynn Fjeld, also of Torgerson’s 11th grade class, Aaron Walter of Berry’s 12th grade class, and Parn Dumrongsukit of Torgerson’s 12th grade class.

Headquartered in Missoula, the Keep Montana Green Association sponsors the annual art and poster contest in coopera¬tion 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.”