NEWS RELEASE USDA Forest Service Washington, D.C.
Release No. 0712	Contact:	Press Office (202) 205-1134

WINNER OF NATIONAL SMOKEY BEAR/WOODSY OWL POSTER CONTEST TO BE ANNOUNCED BY CHIEF AT WORLD CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2007 — Forest Service Chief Abigail Kimbell will honor the winner of the National Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl poster contest at the World Children's Festival day of Health and Environment on Saturday, June 23.

Recognition of the grand prize winner will take place at 2:15 p.m. on the National Mall, between 4th and 7th streets, in Washington, D.C.

Sukanya Mittal, a 3rd grade student from Dogwood Elementary School in Germantown, Tennessee, was chosen from a field of more than 3,000 budding artists as the winner of the poster contest.

The annual poster contest is a 47-year partnership between the National Garden Clubs, Inc., and the Forest Service Conservation Education program. The contest provides education on fire prevention and land conservation for first through fifth grade students throughout the United States. An estimated 300,000 students each year are invited to
submit entries through their local Garden Club chapters.

Sukanya's colorful poster depicts Smokey Bear extinguishing a fire, reminding us that "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires!" The winning poster, and other merit-winning posters, can be viewed at the National Symbols website at http://www.symbols.gov.

"The Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl poster contest celebrates the creative ability of children and their interpretation of the messages we are conveying to our public," said Kimbell. "The winning poster skillfully created by Sukanya illustrates that a team effort is needed because the effects of wildfire impact us all."

As a part of the celebration, the Forest Service Conservation Education program will present an educational and interactive workshop from 2-4 p.m. titled "Woodsy Owl's Fun with Trees."

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