Kip Kendrick, Presiding Commissioner

Justin Aldred, District I Commissioner

Janet Thompson, District II Commissioner

Roger B. Wilson

Boone County Government Center

801 E. Walnut St., Rm 333

Columbia, MO 65201-7732

(573) 886-4305 (573) 886-4311

Boone County
Commission

Boone County News Release

Boone County Students Invited to Enter Earth Day Art Contest!

COLUMBIA, Mo. (September 19, 2025) - Calling all Boone County students, kindergarten through 12th grade: Grab your pencils, paints, or markers and get creative! Bring Boone County’s wildlife, plants, landscapes, and freshwater ecosystems to life and show how nature makes your life better or more fun!

All Boone County students are invited to participate in the Earth Day Art Contest, where they can showcase their creativity and love for the environment, display their art in the Columbia Earth Day Celebration, and have a chance to win a prize.

The contest, sponsored by the City of Columbia, Boone County, and the University of Missouri – Columbia, kicked off on Monday, September 15. Submissions will be accepted until December 15 and winners will be contacted on January 15, 2026. Winners will be announced on Earth Day, April 2026.

Theme for Artists:
"How the animals, plants, and nature in Boone County make your life better or more fun."

How to Enter:
Visit the contest website to enter the art contest and submit your work: https://www.como.gov/sustainability/earth-day-art-contest/

What to Create:
Draw, paint, or illustrate an original piece of artwork based on the contest theme. To be eligible, your poster must focus on Boone County, Missouri. Artwork can feature:

• Wildlife: Deer, raccoons, foxes, birds (e.g., eastern bluebird, red-tailed hawk), fish, amphibians, reptiles, and insects that live in Boone County.
• Plants: Native trees (like oak or hickory), wildflowers (like coneflowers or milkweed), shrubs, or grasses commonly found in Missouri’s ecosystems.
• Landscapes: Prairies, forests, caves, or other natural land formations in Boone County.
• Freshwater ecosystems: Creeks, streams, rivers (e.g., the Missouri River), wetlands, ponds, or springs, including animals or plants that depend on these habitats, such as turtles, frogs, or cattails.

Contest Details:

• Eligibility: Students in grades K-12 residing in Boone County.
• Age Divisions:
  • K-2nd grade
  • 3rd-5th grade
  • 6th-8th grade
  • 9th-12th grade
• Prizes: First and second-place winners in each division will receive $30 gift cards.
• Artwork Guidelines:
  • All artwork must be hand-made, not traced or computer-generated.
  • Each poster must be created by one person.
  • Hand-drawn artwork should be photographed and submitted as a JPG or PNG file through the website. A horizontal or landscape orientation is recommended.
  • Creativity in incorporating Missouri’s native wildlife, plants, land, and freshwater ecosystems will be a key judging criterion.
  • All entries become the intellectual property of the City of Columbia, Boone County, and the University of Missouri – Columbia for reproduction and use.

Important Dates:

• Contest Kickoff: September 15, 2025
• Submission Deadline: December 15, 2025
• Winners Announced: January 15, 2026
• Earth Day Celebration: April 2026

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