Contests
Welcome to our 2024 Poster, Photo, and Digital Poster Contest page! Participating in the Conservation District Poster Contest is not just about artistry; it's a powerful way to engage our community and promote the mission of conservation. We believe in inclusiveness and encourage everyone to join our contests. We're thrilled to introduce two new contests to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to share in our excitement and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Poster Contests
The 2025 NACD Stewardship Theme, “Home is Where the Habitat Is,” celebrates 70 years of Stewardship Week.
The 2024 Poster Contest, “May the Forest be with You Always,“ is open for state submissions until December 1, 2024.
NACD’s Poster Contest gives K-12 students a chance to have their artwork displayed nationally, highlighting conservation district efforts. The contest begins locally, advances to state levels, and national winners are recognized at NACD’s annual meeting.
New for 2024: The Braille Poster Contest, inspired by a 6th grader from Tuscola Conservation District, MI, invites blind and low-vision students to create posters using braille, whether through braille type, labeling, or raised dots. The second new contest is the Additional Assist Poster Contest, which offers support for students needing extra help to complete their posters, promoting inclusivity and conservation advocacy. Support our inclusivity efforts! Join our FUNdraiser and purchase a limited edition ink block style poster.
CONTESTS:
- Contest Rules
- The contests welcome participation from students in public, private, and home-school settings. All participants are encouraged to create posters that celebrate inclusivity and the importance of our natural resources.
- Find poster contest and educational material resources on the NACD Marketplace.
- 11″ x 17″ 60 lb. paper is a great size for posters! However, we will accept posters in any size 8.5″ x 11″ or larger.
- All state contest submissions should originate from district-level competitions. In cases where residents are from non-participating districts, reach out to the NACD Stewardship team to facilitate connection with respective state organizers.
- All national contest submission must originate from state-level competitions.
- The national contest offers cash prizes to the top three posters in each category.
- First-place $200.00
- Second-place $150.00
- Third-place $100.00
- Winners are announced in February 2025 at NACD’s Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City.
- WINNER CHECKS: NACD will mail the poster contest winner checks and certificates via USPS to the submitting district as part of our mission to promote conservation districts’ direct community engagement. Many districts prefer to present the awards personally at banquets or special events, emphasizing their role in local conservation-based education efforts.
For inquiries, please contact stewardship[at]nacdnet.org.
All entries at the local and state-level contest must be submitted with this local to state form along with this contest entry form (placed on the back of each poster) by the due dates set by your local conservation district. Find contact information for your local conservation district on NACD’s Conservation District Directory. All poster submissions must be sponsored by a local conservation district.
Posters for the national contest will only be accepted from state poster contest organizers. All entries must be submitted through the online submission links shown below. If you don’t have a scanner and need to know how to scan a document on your phone, look at Methods 3 and 4 in this article.
Name the JPG/PDF file for the poster submitted in the following format:
State_CategoryCode_Grade Level_LastName_Initial(s) of the winner.
Category Codes:
Braille Poster Contest Submissions (Braille)
Graphic Design Poster Contest (Digital)
Additional Assist Poster Contest (Assist)
Hand Drawn Poster Contest (HD)
Examples:
Maryland_HD_10-12_Student_B
WestVirginia_Braille_2-3_Smith_ST
SUBMISSION FORM LINKS:
Braille Poster Contest Submissions
Additional Assist Poster Contest
Questions? Please contact NACD Stewardship and Education team at stewardship[at]nacdnet.org.
Email stewardship[at]nacdnet.org for 2024 Digital Poster, Hand Drawn, Braille and Additional Needs Poster Contest Rules.
2024 NACD National Poster and Photo Contests Rules
Find the Poster Contest Lesson plan in the 2024 Education and Lesson Plans guide!
Photo Contest
The 2024 NACD Photo Contest is open for submissions until December 1, 2024, with winners announced at NACD’s Annual Meeting in February 2025. The contest is open to all amateur photographers in the U.S. and its territories, who may submit up to five photos in the following categories:
- Conservation Practices (CP)
- Close-up Conservation(CU)
- Conservation in Action (CA)
- Agriculture and Conservation Across America (AA)
Age Division
- Youth (Y)
- Adult (A)
Photos are judged on technical merit (framing, exposure, clarity) and composition (creativity, imagination). One winner from each category and age division (19+ for adults) will receive a $100 prize, while second-place winners will receive $50. Honorable mentions will also be recognized but do not receive a cash prize. Prizes are sponsored by NACD Auxiliary through proceeds from the Country Store and quilt project.
To enter, complete and submit the photo contest entry form for each photo in JPG, PNG, or TIFF format. Emailed submissions will not be accepted. Minor digital edits (cropping, red-eye removal) are allowed, but significant alterations may lead to disqualification. Photos must not include borders, watermarks, or previously published material.
Entries should be named by Division_Category_Last Name_Initials_State_Photo number (e.g., Y_CA_Smith_AM_TX_1).
Full instructions are provided in the contest guidelines. Minor digital enhancements for cropping, red-eye removal, filters, and corrective functions are permitted; however, an image judged to be significantly altered may be disqualified. Contestants are not permitted to place borders, frames, or backgrounds around their images or to place watermarks, dates, signatures, or copyright images onto photos. Previously published photos are not eligible for the NACD Photo Contest. All entries become the property of NACD. As such, NACD reserves the non-exclusive right to use submissions in official publications and for promotional purposes. The photographer retains rights and use to their photo.
Questions? Contact NACD at stewardship[at]nacdnet.org.