WASHINGTON, DC—If the winner of this year’s Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl poster contest is any example, our next generation of environmental thought leaders are bright, talented and full of imagination.

The USDA Forest Service’s Conservation Education program is pleased to announce Esther Zhang as the winner of this year’s poster contest. Her artwork features Woodsy’s timeless message: Lend a hand—Care for the land!

A fourth grader from Germantown, Tennessee, Zhang takes home the national grand prize. At only 10 years old, she shows unusual promise as a visual artist. Her expression on paper features an image of Woodsy planting a tree, framed by two old growth trees with his message “Lend a hand—Care for the land” writ large in the intricacies of the branches of both trees just above the famous owl’s figure.

Just like Zhang, there are other budding environmental activists across the country who participated in the contest. Their work reminds us of the next generation who will help protect the environment for years to come. Congratulations to the other national winners who competed for the national grand prize.

The Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl poster contest is a national competition sponsored by the Forest Service and the National Garden Club, Inc., one of the largest volunteer organizations in the United States. Zhang’s poster was selected from over 1,200 nationwide submissions. The final selection of the national grand prize was made by Forest Service employees, who overwhelmingly voted for Zhang’s vision of Woodsy’s slogan.