Utah residents are lucky to always have the opportunity to enjoy viewing wildlife, but time is running out for people to share their favorite stories, pictures, or art of wild creatures across our state.
The May 10 deadline for entries in the first Celebrate Utah Wildlife contest is approaching.
The Utah Wildlife Federation and the mural artist Chris Peterson organized the Celebrate Utah Wildlife contest with 63 cash prizes for people ranging from 4 to 104. It is as simple as writing a story, taking a picture, making a video or creating an audio recording of your favorite wildlife experience.
“It has been so fun watching entries from people of all ages come in from all over the state,” said Chris Peterson, an artist working with the Utah Wildlife Federation to get wildlife murals up in all 29 counties as part of the Utah Wildlife Walls Project. “I love experiencing wildlife through the eyes of my fellow Utahns and appreciate all who have stepped up to celebrate our local species as part of the contest.”
More than $10,000 in cash prizes will be handed out in the form of $250 awards for first-place and dozens more for the best submissions across three age groups: children, teens and adults. Submissions can include wildlife-related art, writing, photography, video, digital art, digital storytelling and music. Entries must be submitted by May 10, 2023 to be considered.
The Celebrate Utah Wildlife contest is made possible, in part, with funding from the Hansen Sisters Foundation, and the Utah STEM Action Center. The digital art and digital storytelling categories are funded through a Community Impact grant from STEM.
Visit www.CelebrateUtahWildlife.org for more information on the contest and Utah Wildlife Walls project.
While the response to the contest has exceeded expectations, the organizers want more entries.
“While cash prizes will be awarded for the top entries, every entry is a priceless example of the value all wildlife holds for the people of Utah,” said Brett Prettyman, chair of the Utah Wildlife Federation board. “We are so excited to create an online and traveling exhibit of these stories so other people can enjoy them and feel inspired to create their own experiences with wildlife.”
– Utah Wildlife Federation
Read more about local wildlife artists in Burrow on over to Bryce Canyon for Utah Prairie Dog Day.
The goal of the Utah Wildlife Federation is to bring the many diverse voices of this unique state together to fashion a collaborative spirit in securing the future of wildlife and outdoor recreation, while providing the best practices to steward our natural resources for generations to come.