Jaycee Gray took Best of Show in this year's Utah Junior Duck Stamp competition. It's the second time she's earned the top honor in the competition -- she also won in 2010.
"I think this is probably the best duck I've done so far," said the Weber High School junior.
Gray -- and all of the first-, second- and third-place winners of the competition -- will be honored at a ceremony from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, 2155 W. Forest St., Brigham City.
Artists were invited to make artwork of any duck species native to North America. Gray created an acrylic painting titled "Buoyant Bufflehead on Blue Bay."
"It was just an interesting duck," she said. "It looked like it had a lot of contrast, and looked like it would be a cool duck to paint."
Gray says the interest in art, and the duck stamp program, runs in the family. Her younger brother, Bradley Gray, took first place in the junior high school category this year. Last year he was the Best of Show winner.
"The Gray family is filled with extremely talented artists," said Kathi Stopher, with the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
The first member of the family to enter the Junior Duck Stamp competition was big brother Greg.
"He also won the best of show and number one in the state," said their father, Steven Gray of North Ogden. "These other two followed in his footsteps. He, tragically, was killed saving his sister in the Blacksmith Fork River."
Stopher said there will be a special tribute to Greg Gray during Saturday's awards ceremony.
"He showed us the way, with art," said Jaycee Gray.
PREVIEW
- WHAT: Utah Junior Duck Stamp Awards
- WHEN: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, May 12
- WHERE: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, 2155 W. Forest St., Brigham City
- ADMISSION: Free; 435-734-6438