Black-footed Ferret Poster Contest - 2026

30 Years of Black-footed Ferret Recovery 

The US Forest Service - National Grasslands Visitor Center will be hosting a Black-footed Ferret Poster Contest to celebrate the reintroduction of the endangered Black-footed ferret on US Forest System Lands. Once thought to be extinct North America’s Black-footed ferrets have made a comeback on protected prairies. This member of the weasel family is very charismatic and vital to grassland ecosystems. Help us in celebrating the Black-footed ferret by creating art of them in their natural habitat. 

Feel free to print the flyer:

Contest Information

Students from kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to participate in a Black-footed Ferret Poster Contest to help promote the conservation of this endangered species. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the importance of grassland wildlife through their original artwork of a Black-footed ferret. School districts, homeschools, youth programs, scout groups, and other informal education, community, or youth organizations can submit entries from school-aged children are encouraged to participate. 

The Poster Contest consists of four divisions: 

1. Kindergarten through 2nd Grade 
2. 3rd Grade through 5th Grade
3. 6th Grade through 8th Grade 
4. 9th Grade through 12th Grade 

Winners will be chosen from each division. Each winner will have their artwork displayed at the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall, South Dakota. Winners will receive a Black-footed ferret prize basket provided by Black Hills Parks and Forests Association. 

Email SM.FS.nnf_info@usda.gov with any questions and to submit Posters digitally. 

Contest Rules: 

• Must be a student in kindergarten – 12th Grade for the 2025-2026 school year. 
• The deadline for entries is June 22nd, 2026. Mailed posters should be postmarked by this deadline. 
• All posters must include a Black-footed ferret. To view photos and learn more about Black-footed ferrets view US Fish and Wildlife Services website here: https://www.fws.gov/species/black-footed-ferret-mustela-nigripes
• Posters must be student’s original artwork. No use of generative AI of any capacity will be accepted. 
• Posters should be created using 8 ½ x 11 regular paper or construction paper. 
• Approved art mediums include crayons, pencils, markers, paint or similar mediums. 
• Please avoid spelling or grammar errors. 
• Posters will be judged based on overall design, messages, artwork, and originality. 
• In-person entries will be accepted at the National Grasslands Visitor Center. 
• Submitted entries become property of the US Forest Service and will not be returned to participants. 
• The following information must be on the back of the poster or within the artwork’s submission email: 
  1. Student Name 
  2. Division
  3. Grade Level
  4. Age
  5. Parent Name
  6. Parent Email Address
  7. Parent Phone Number

Avoid dark ink or marker that may show through the artwork when adding information to the back of the poster. 

Posters may be mailed by June 22nd, 2026 (flat not folded) to: 

• National Grasslands Visitor Center
• P.O. Box 425 
• Wall, SD 57790

Posters may be emailed by June 22nd, 2026, as a JPEG or PDF attachment to: 
SM.FS.nnf_info@usda.gov

Additional Information

• Entries may be submitted anytime up to the announced closing date. 
• Winners will be announced on July 6th, 2026.
• Any offensive entries will be disqualified. 
• Explore information on US Fish & Wildlife Service web page about black-footed ferrets.