1,800 students share outdoor tales in new state contest

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the winners of the My Natural State Story contest on Sunday. The project partnered with the Arkansas Department of Education, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Students submitted personal accounts of their time outdoors to help inspire peers to spend less time on screens.

The contest launched in August and accepted entries through Monday, October 12. More than 1,800 essays entered the competition. Participants wrote about activities including hunting, fishing, boating, climbing, cycling, camping, and hiking. Submissions were divided into two age groups: junior for ages 10 to 13 and senior for ages 14 to 17.

Judges evaluated the essays for clear descriptions of place and the student’s active participation in the activity. They also looked for honest reflections on why the experience mattered. The panel selected one winner from each age group in each of the seven categories. Two students received the top prize, My Natural State Story of the Year, bringing the total number of winners to 16.

Cooper Rich from Valley View Middle School won the junior top prize with his essay titled Where’s Waldo? Payton Tolliver from STEAM for the Next Generation High School won the senior top prize with My State Parks Story. Both students received a lifetime hunting and fishing license from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. They also each received a $500 gift and experience package provided by the Game and Fish Commission and the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.

Other top winners included Kaddo Staggs from Centerpoint Elementary School, who won in the junior fishing category. Ezra Snyder from Bentonville High School took the senior fishing prize. Both received $1,000 prize packs from PRADCO Fishing. Reagan Souder from Mountain Home Christian Academy and Olivia Kholos from Rogers High School won in the boating and paddling category, receiving gear and school fees from the Arkansas Canoe Club.

Cyclists Avery Ellis from Christ Little Rock School and Estera Cretiu from a homeschool program won their categories. Their prizes included an Ozark Trail Mountain Bike and a USA Cycling prize pack. Climbers Kinley Pickett from Southside Middle School and RaLynn Sharp from Acorn High School each won a two night stay at a state park lodge and climbing passes.

Camping winners Emma Buccille from Cedarville Middle School and Zander Schoultz from Lakeside High School received tents, sleeping bags, and camping stays. Hiking winners Reagan Morris from Lincoln Junior High School and Payton Tolliver also received family passes to Crater of Diamonds and gear from Gearhead. All first place winners, runners up, and second runners up were invited to the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion for the ceremony.