Overview:

Annabelle Xu, a 12-year-old artist from Boxboro, was among 86 other entries from young artists across Massachusetts on display at the Millers River Environmental Center in Athol. The competition, sponsored by MassWildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, aims to encourage students to learn about conservation and wetlands, waterfowl, and habitat.

Annabelle Xu, who took Best in Show for Massachusetts, attends Sunday event

Annabelle Xu of Boxboro shows her colored pencil rendering of an American wigeon at the Junior Duck Stamp Artists show, held Aug. 3 at the Millers River Environmental Center. PHOTO BY GREG VINE

ATHOL – A display of artwork celebrating the state’s 2025 Junior Duck Stamp artists is on display at the Millers River Environmental Center, and will remain for several weeks.

An open house at the center, located at 100 Main St. in Athol, was held this past Sunday, Aug. 3. Annabelle Xu, 12, of Boxboro, was awarded Best in Show in the 2025 Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp Contest earlier this year, and attended Sunday’s event to show her work to visitors.

Xu’s was one of 133 entries submitted by youngsters from around Massachusetts. Her work, a colored pencil rendering of an American wigeon, represented the state with entries from around the country at the National Junior Duck Stamp contest.

The young artist will enter seventh grade this fall and takes art classes at the Apple-Leaf Studio in Boxboro.

“My teacher told us about this competition, and I said, ‘Why not?’” said Xu.

Annabelle Xu of Boxboro’s colored pencil rendering of an American wigeon
at the Junior Duck Stamp Artists show, held Aug. 3 at the Millers River
Environmental Center. PHOTO BY GREG VINE

Of the 133 Massachusetts entries, 87 were on display at the MREC Sunday afternoon, according to David Small, president of the Athol Bird & Nature Club. More than 50 will remain on display through the month of September.

Students from kindergarten through grade 12 are encouraged to participate in the competition, sponsored by MassWildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with support from the Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council. Each work must depict waterfowl in their natural habitats.

In addition to highlighting each entrant’s artistic abilities, the competition gives students the opportunity to display their knowledge of the importance of wetlands.

Small was one of five judges for this year’s entries. Joining him at Sunday’s open house was Pam Landry, wildlife education coordinator for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

Landry said the main purpose of the competition is “really to encourage students to learn about conservation and wetlands and waterfowl and habitat. What they learn then culminates in their artwork.

“All of the Best in Shows get to the national level. Then the best of the Best in Shows are what is turned into stamps for the following year,” Landry said. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services sell a lot of the stamps at their refuge sites across the country.”

Small explained that students are welcome to use any medium for their artwork. However, the waterfowl represented must be shown in their natural habitat.

“So, you can’t draw a waterfowl common to lakes or ponds and show it swimming in the ocean,” he said. “Each work has to be accurate in terms of their appearance and their natural surroundings.”

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.