A colored pencil rendition of a bufflehead duck has been chosen as the 2008 best of show in the North Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Contest.

Seventeen-year-old Ashley Berg from Valley City titled her winning artwork "Single at Last" and learned she was the winner one day before her 18th birthday.

Ashley's artwork was selected from 819 entries received from across North Dakota. She said her art teacher, Kelly Callahan, was instrumental in encouraging her to enter the contest.

Ashley, who attends Valley City High School, said she enjoys "hanging out with my friends, watching 'Law and Order,' and I like to draw. Drawing helps me keep my mind off other things - I especially like to draw animals, such as lions, deer, ducks, and other wildlife."

Her artwork will compete at the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest, along with other state and U.S. territory entries. The winner there, a family member and the teacher will earn a trip to Washington, D.C., a $5,000 cash award and the honor of having their entry made into a stamp.

Tanner Morehouse, a 16-year-old student from Valley City, received best of show runner-up honors. Tanner featured a pair of wood ducks in a wetland, using a colored pencil medium.

The North Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Banquet and Awards Ceremony will be held for all first-, second- and third-place finishers in Bismarck on May 3, in conjunction with the Lewis and Clark Wildlife Club banquet. Winning students will receive ribbons and prizes donated by National Wildlife Refuges, Ducks Unlimited, and other wildlife organizations. The winning artwork will be exhibited throughout the state at national wildlife refuges, local malls and other events throughout the summer.

Here is a list of the other young artists who were honored:

Grades K-3

First place - Timothy Kietzman, Edgeley; Zach Christenson, Maxbass; Tate Wymann, Westhope.

Second place - Ethan Elijah, Lisbon; Megan Tichy, Tower City; Logan Lamoureux, Westhope.

Third place - Madison Langlie, Fargo; Thomas Mitchell, Crystal; Shaylee Miller, Deering.

Grades 4-6

First place - Paige Stratton, Westhope; Maddy Lodoen, Westhope; Brennen Stotts, Lisbon.

Second place - Jaiden Langlie, Fargo; Kali Miller, Deering; Dylan Wiek, Wahpeton.

Third place - Lexi Wyman, Westhope; Hawkin Smette, Newburg; Laura Brandjord, Bottineau.

Grades 7-9

First place - Matt Guertin, Valley City; Emily Marboe, Dickinson; Josh Hoover, Valley City.

Second place - Hadlee Schell, Westhope; Katie Cruff, Valley City; Kayla Sorby, Valley City.

Third place - Ashley Miller, Newburg; Haley Larson, Valley City; Jory Miller, Deering.

Grades 10-12

First place - Ashley Berg, Valley City (best of show); Tanner Morehouse, Valley City (best of show runner-up); Sarah Monette, Devils Lake.

Second place - Jenny Sandvik, Valley City; Brian Chepulis, Devils Lake; Penny Lam, Valley City.

Third place - Katelyn Kjelland, Valley City; Alicia Rohde, Valley City; Elliot Klinger, Valley City.