The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center has opened the Texas division of Wildlife Forever’s 2027 Fish Art Contest for entries, according to an Oct. 7 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department news release. Entries are accepted until Feb. 28.
The release said the Texas division will celebrate 20 years in 2027, thanks to the vision of Richard M. “Dick” Hart, a conservation leader who helped bring the program to the state. The national Richard M. Hart Educator of the Year Award, established in 2022, recognizes educators across the country for their impact on youth conservation education.
“The Fish Art contest is just one way we can help our students connect with the outdoors,” said Darrel Malone, education and interpretation coordinator at the center. “As they research their chosen fish species and begin to learn about its habitat, they begin to find a personal connection to their fish. This connection can help inspire the future stewards of our natural resources.”
Participants must submit a completed online entry form and an original illustration of a fish from curated freshwater and saltwater lists available on the contest webpage, TPWD said. Entry categories include kindergarten, grades 1-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. Applicants in grades 4-12 must also submit a one-page creative writing piece. Students may submit only one entry per year, and entries must be two-dimensional and scanned as digital submissions. Educators can use a group entry form to save time.
The contest’s Special Species Award highlights a focus species or set of species, and the species chosen for 2027 is the American eel, the release said. One winner will be chosen from all entries and spotlighted at the center. Texas winners receive a scholarship investment, are featured in an exhibit at the center, are invited to a family fishing celebration and appear in TPWD’s Fish Art Contest Flickr album. Winners also earn automatic entry to Wildlife Forever’s national contest.
The agency said the contest is sponsored nationally by Wildlife Forever, Bass Pro Shops, Rapala and other organizations, with statewide support from the Friends of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. Educators can find entry forms, rules and guidelines on the center’s Fish Art Contest website.