CANE HILL — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Historic Cane Hill formally announced the winners of the 2026 Northern Bobwhite Conservation Stamp and 2026 Eastern Wild Turkey Conservation Stamp Art Contest Saturday at a special ceremony in the Historic Cane Hill Gallery, opening a month-long exhibit of upland conservation-inspired artwork.
Mikki Young, a student at the University of Arkansas School of Art, took first place in the Northern Bobwhite Conservation Stamp Art Contest with her painting of a pair of quail in the delicate light of dawn titled "Quail in the Meadows." Young has captured the attention of many artists and enthusiasts since winning the Congressional Art Competition in Arkansas while attending Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood.
Established wildlife artist Dan Andrews of Denver, Colorado, painted the first-place entry in the Eastern Wild Turkey Conservation Stamp Art Contest. His image of three woodland turkeys in the golden backdrop of morning flydown illustrated the subtle beauty of the eastern subspecies that hunters throughout the eastern United States pursue.
Both pieces will be displayed at Historic Cane Hill as the centerpieces of an exhibit featuring all art submitted for the contest, as well as other artwork focused on the conservation of wildlife and their habitat in the Ozarks region of Arkansas. The exhibit will conclude April 18, with a closing night dinner featuring quail prepared by Chef Case Dighero presented along scenic Jordan Creek on the property.
Since their inception, these voluntary stamps have helped fund more than $2.7 million worth of habitat work for quail and turkeys through 54 projects, all on public land throughout roughly 18,435 acres in Arkansas.
"The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's voluntary eastern wild turkey conservation stamp and northern bobwhite stamp are direct and vital investments in the future of upland wildlife habitats and the species that depend upon them in The Natural State," says David Moscicki, AGFC Turkey Program Coordinator and Wildlife Manager. "For the investment of $9.50, hunters and wildlife enthusiasts can set in motion a cascade of conservation action. The contribution is multiplied through strategic partnerships (including National Wild Turkey Federation and Quail Forever) and transformed into scientifically proven habitat improvements that translate into improved survival of female turkeys and their poults. This program is a testament to the principle that when state agencies, dedicated conservation organizations, and a passionate public work in concert, they can successfully address the challenges facing wildlife."
Visit www.agfc.com to learn more about eastern wild turkey and northern bobwhite conservation in Arkansas and purchase your stamps to help contribute to this vital conservation program.