BROOKLYN CENTER, MN - Students across the United States have the opportunity to win recognition and prizes while learning about state-fish species, aquatic habitats, and conservation.

The State-Fish Art Contest uses art to catch the imagination of youth while teaching fisheries conservation.

A talented artist in grades 10-12 will be selected as the national “Best of Show” winner and will receive a $2,500 tuition scholarship to attend The Art Institutes International Minnesota (Ai Minnesota), a leading creative college for design, culinary, and media arts education located in downtown Minneapolis. The first-runner up nationally in grades 10-12 will receive a $1,000 tuition scholarship to Ai Minnesota.

Entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2008. Winners will be announced May 1, 2008.

The 10th Annual Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest is open to all students in grades 4 through 12.

To enter, young artists nationwide must create an illustration of their chosen state-fish. A written composition on its behavior, habitat, and conservation is also required.

Educators and Parents: Visit the State-Fish Art website at www.statefishart.com for complete details and to download the free lesson plan.

Texas Students mail entries to: Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center: 5550 FM 2495, Athens, TX 75752

All other states mail entries to: Wildlife Forever: 2700 Freeway Blvd. #1000, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430

Winning contestants from each state are honored in three grade categories, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. All contest winners will receive a gift certificate for art supplies from Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, fishing tackle from

Rapala, and many other great prizes. Winning designs will also be featured on the official

State-Fish Art website.

One “gallery-quality” winning entry will be used as the design for the 2008 Art of Conservation Stamp. Additional prizes up for grabs in 2008 include “Best of Show” and the Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, “People’s Choice” awards. Honors for “Best of Show” will be given to one outstanding piece of artwork in each grade category.

“The State-Fish Art Contest is a fun and innovative way to introduce America’s youth to the wonders of our natural world,” said Wildlife Forever’s President & CEO, Douglas H. Grann. “With the new scholarship awards from The Art Institutes International Minnesota and the prizes from Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff and Rapala, the State-Fish Art Contest provides unique opportunities that young artists and anglers will not want to miss.”

2008 State-Fish Art Expo

The 10th Annual State-Fish Art Expo will be held at Mall of America on July 19-20, 2008. Winners of the 2008 State-Fish Art Contest will be recognized for their outstanding artwork in the Mall's Central Rotunda. A massive art display will feature all the winning artwork from across the country.

Woodsy Owl and the USDA Forest Service will hand out FREE tree seedlings to the first 5,000 visitors. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will join the Forest Service to help educate Mall visitors about fisheries and aquatic conservation, the threat posed by invasive species to our natural resources and recreation opportunities to step outside and enjoy America's abundant fish and wildlife.

Saturday, July 19th will be a fun-filled day for Expo attendees. National “Best of Show” winners will be announced and state winners recognized in an Awards Ceremony before a large Mall crowd. The Annual Art of Conservation™ Stamp Award winner will also be unveiled. Much like the way the federal government uses the proceeds from the federal duck stamp to fund wetlands conservation, sales of Wildlife Forever’s Art of Conservation™ stamps have funded conservation education and fishery projects across America.

“With the Art of Conservation™ stamps and the help of the U.S. Postal Service,” said Wildlife Forever’s Grann, “the State-Fish Art Expo will spread the good news of conservation while generating funds for fisheries conservation.”

After the ceremony, contest winners and their families will enjoy a field trip to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and a fishing event with staff from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Winners who attend the Expo will receive a special rod and reel compliments of Wildlife Forever.

Sunday, July 20th the Minnesota Twins will host a special recognition ceremony for the winners on the playing field of the Metrodome before their game against the Texas Rangers.

About Wildlife Forever

Wildlife Forever is a multi-species non-profit conservation organization that works to preserve America’s wildlife heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat and scientific management of fish and wildlife species. Working at the grassroots level, Wildlife Forever has funded conservation projects in all 50 states, committing millions of dollars to “on the ground” conservation efforts. Learn more at www.wildlifeforever.org.

For more information contact Pat Conzemius at Wildlife Forever, 2700 Freeway Blvd., #1000, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430, by email at pconzemius@wildlifeforever.org or call (763) 253-0222.