Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has proudly recognized 16 exceptional young artists from Iowa, whose artwork was chosen to feature in the 2023-2024 Choose Iowa Coloring Calendar. The recognition ceremony took place at the 2023 Iowa State Fair, hosted in the Agriculture Building.
The Choose Iowa initiative aims to connect consumers with the exceptional products grown, raised, and crafted in Iowa. Secretary Naig expressed his admiration for the artistic talent showcased by Iowa's students, emphasizing how these young minds are not only learning about Iowa's agriculture but also representing the state through their creative expressions.
With over 120 submissions received from K-12 students across Iowa, the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship carefully selected 16 standout pieces for this annual calendar.
The list of 2023 winners, organized alphabetically by last name, is as follows:
- Maggie Belloma, Centerville, IA
- Lyndley Dooley, Centerville, IA
- Eveyln Douglas, Keystone, IA
- Autumn Greenless, Adel, IA
- Vylan Jacobi, Belle Plaine, IA
- Madlynn Kehret, Charles City, IA
- Izabella Kochyt, Belle Plaine, IA
- Ryker Kooima, Rock Valley, IA
- Mackenzie Mommsen, DeWitt, IA
- Isaac Postma, Rock Valley, IA
- Regina Ivanova Reynoso-Reyes, Rock Valley, IA
- Drithi Chandra Udutha, Bettendorf, IA
- Lina Yu, West Des Moines, IA
Honorable mentions for 2023 include:
- Zoey Brandt, Belle Plaine, IA
- Cade Pfeiler, Cedar Rapids, IA
- Brooke Webber, West Branch, IA
The winners received certificates of achievement during the ceremony. The official photos capturing this proud moment will be available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's Flickr page within a month of the event.
The free 2023-2024 calendar will be distributed to fairgoers visiting the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's booths in both the Agriculture Building and Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fair.
For next year's Choose Iowa Coloring Calendar (covering September 2024 to August 2025), artists aged 18 and under are invited to submit their drawings. Submissions should be made via email to ChooseIowa@IowaAgriculture.gov or mailed to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Each entry must include the artist's details along with their creation.
The Choose Iowa initiative celebrates and promotes Iowa's homegrown products, bridging the gap between consumers and local farmers. This initiative fosters market growth, adds value to products, and connects communities with the rich agricultural heritage of Iowa. Learn more at ChooseIowa.com.
Categories: Iowa, Education