SANTA FE – Some of New Mexico's most talented youth artists took part in the first-ever Art of Conservation New Mexico Fish Art Contest, with winners announced last week by the New Mexico Department of Wildlife.
The contest included divisions for grades K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. The top-three finishers in each division will proceed to the National Fish Art Contest, sponsored by Wildlife Forever. Other categories included the Invader Crusader Award, for artwork featuring a native and invasive aquatic species found in the student's local area; the Mighty Minnow Award, for kindergarten participants; the New Mexico Native Trout Award, for artwork highlighting New Mexico's native trout species — Gila trout or Rio Grande cutthroat trout; and the New Mexico Species of Greatest Conservation Need Award, for artwork that best represents species identified by the Department as being most at risk and in need of proactive conservation.
Winners are as follows:
Kindergarten-3rd Grade
- 1st Place: Maverick Morales, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout
- 2nd Place: Muhan Gao, Rainbow Trout
- 3rd Place: Claire Archuleta, New Mexico Brook Trout
4th-6th Grade
- 1st Place: Melany Trevizo, Rainbow Trout
- 2nd Place: Bella Springstead, Gila Trout
- 3rd Place: Maya Croom, Rio Grande Cutthroat
7th-9th Grade
- 1st Place: Claire Lee, Southern Redbelly Dace
- 2nd Place: Ellie-Jean Landin, Longnose Gar
- 3rd Place: Silas Bledsoe, Bluegill
10th-12th Grade
- 1st Place: Christina Rose Agrusa, Gila Chub
- 2nd Place: Sophia Morgan, Greenthroat Darter
- 3rd Place: Arielle Senior, Trout
Invader Crusader Award
-
Jackson Pfeiffer, Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout and Zebra Mussel
Mighty Minnow Award
- Lilly Bowley, Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout
New Mexico Native Trout Award
-
Kevin Villa, Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout
New Mexico Species of Greatest Conservation Need Award
-
Claire Lee, Southern Redbelly Dace
First-place winners in grades 7-9 and 10-12 received guided half-day fishing trips provided by Mayfly Fly Fishing. Those who finished in first, second and third place in grades K-3 and 4-6 received a group fishing experience with Chris Jarvis, who works with the Department on various educational efforts throughout the state. Other prizes were donated by Trout Unlimited and private individuals.
The Department would like to thank Sen. Martin Heinrich's office and Trout Unlimited for their support and assistance with judging this year's entries, as well as the New Mexico Council of Outfitters and Guides for helping to secure fly-fishing services.
