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As a sophomore, Austin High School’s Callie Hillman won third place in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp competition for Minnesota. A year later she came in second.

There’s only one way to take the trend from there and Hillman did it in a big way.

This year, Hillman not only closed in first place in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Junior Duck Stamp competition for Minnesota, she was also awarded Best in Show making her eligible to compete in the National Junior Duck Stamp Competition.

While she’s not the first student from Austin Public Schools to win first place, she is the first to claim both prizes.

“I was surprised. I really didn’t think I could win,” Hillman said. “It showed that all of my hard work paid off. It was my goal all year to at least get the chance to compete at the national level.”

Hillman’s winning artwork is of a pair of mallards standing in a patch of grass titled “Morning on the Lakeside.” She chose the mallards because of how common and recognizable they are to the state of Minnesota.

At the same time Junior Duck Stamp has been an opportunity for Hillman to combine things she really enjoys: art and nature, while supporting what the Duck Stamp represents.

“I like seeing the wildlife and I like how it promotes the preservation of wetlands,” Hillman said. 

Hillman’s art teacher, Jake Levisen, said that it’s been fun watching Hillman build and advance her talents to the point that she is the first Austin student to win both awards in the annual contest.

Levisen, who has finished second in the Duck Stamp competition, noted just how hard she works to advance her techniques including the time she puts in, which in this case was around six hours worth of work.

“Callie always asks what’s next. She’s always up for the challenge,” Levisen said, later adding: “I just want to emphasize just how proud I am with the amount of work she puts into her artwork.”

While her art remains an enjoyable outlet for Hillman, who is looking at studying animal science in college, the image she captured is a simple vision of the beauty of Minnesota wildlife.

“It’s a duck everybody knows and is really common around Minnesota,” she said. “It’s basic, but still really pretty.”

The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program works to teach wetland and waterfowl conservation to students taking part, which ranges from kindergarten through high school. 

The national winner will serve as the design for the Junior Duck Stamp, which is produced annually by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sold for $5, revenue generated goes toward supporting the recognition and environmental education activities for students participating in the program.