A Dexter teen took second place in an annual stamp competition.

Keenan Schultz, 18, of Dexter received Runner-Up Best of Show honors in this year’s Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Program.

Schultz featured a hooded merganser in graphite titled “Early Spring.” Schultz’s conservation message is: “It baffles me at how the majority of society pays no attention to our impact on our wildlife and environment.”

More than 450 students, grades K-12, participated in the contest, which sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Judges selected a flying drake bufflehead as the 2016 Best of Show. Eugene Lee, 17, of Eden Prairie used acrylic paints and titled her winning artwork “Spread Your Wings.” This is her third year participating in the Junior Duck Stamp Contest. Lee’s conservation message is: “The beauty of nature cannot be artificially replicated, even by the most talented artist. This is why we respect nature.”

On April 22, 2016, Lee’s artwork will compete at the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest, along with other state and U.S. territory entries. The winner of the national contest will have their entry made into the next Junior Duck Stamp, with proceeds from these stamps going to support conservation education programs.

The Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Awards Ceremony will be held for all first, second, and third place winners, as well as the conservation winner and student honor winner at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center in Fergus Falls, Minnesota on May 7, 2016. Winning students will receive an invitation to the ceremony, where they will also receive ribbons and prizes donated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Ducks Unlimited. The winning artwork will be exhibited at National Wildlife Refuge System events across the state of Minnesota and various other locations throughout the year.

Local winners:

•Keenan Schultz of Dexter, 1st Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12), Best of show runner up.

•David Garcia of Austin, 3rd Place – Group 4 (Grade 10-12)