National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)

The DNR works with the NWTF to share conservation education opportunities to teachers, students and citizens.

Eligibility: K-12 students attending public, private, or home schools in Michigan are eligible to enter. Grade level categories: grades K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12.

Design requirements: Designs should be simple and unique, and easily reproduced as a patch.

Theme: The design should include the Eastern Wild Turkey or components of the turkey (ie. feathers, tracks).

Medium: Drawings may be any medium (pencil, oil, pen and ink, chalk, crayon, etc.) and may be color or black and white. If color, no more than 13 colors may be used.

Shape: The patch shape (border) is an integral part of the design. Make sure to include the border in the design. Patches can be any shape, not limited to standard geometric shapes.

Artwork size: All entries must be submitted on 8.5 x 11 inch paper, and submitted without mat, glass, frame, or coversheet (spray chalk with fixative).

Lettering: The following text must be included in the patch design:
"Wild Turkey Management Cooperator"
"2014"
"Michigan Department of Natural Resources"

Entry information: On a separate piece of paper, type or print legibly the following information:
Student's name, home mailing address, home phone number, grade level, school or club affiliation and teacher/club leaders' name (if submitted through school or a club).
GLUE this information on the back of the entry.
One entry per student.

Deadline: All entries must be RECEIVED no later than December 15, 2012.

Entries should be mailed to:
Turkey Patch Contest
P.O. Box 8
Orleans, MI 48865

Awards: First, second and third place winners will receive cash awards of $100, $50 and $25 respectively. The winning design will be the basis for the 2014 Michigan Wild Turkey Management Cooperator Patch. The winner and his/her parents or guardians will be invited to the Michigan NWTF State Chapter banquet and the DNR Commission meeting when the patch is released between November 2013 and January 2014 .

Liability:
Contest Organizers:
1) Reserve the right to not use any entries submitted for patch design.
2) Reserve the right to use any entry as the basis for patch designs in future years, whether or not there is a patch contest that year.
3) Will protect the integrity of winner's design composition as much as possible. Changes may be made to assist in the production of the patch.
4) Reserve the exclusive right to authorize the reproduction of the winning design.
5) Will not insure the entries received or be responsible for loss or damage of the entries.
6) Have the right to use the student's name and image for promotional purposes without compensation to the student.
7) Have the right to destroy unclaimed artwork after one year.

Design entry must be contestant's original, hand done creation and may not be copied or traced from other artists' works.
Photographs may be used for reference only; students must make fundamental changes when using someone else's work as their inspiration. Plagiarism, the unauthorized use of the language, thoughts, or work of another person and representing it as your own, is a crime.
Computers or other mechanical devices may not be used in any stage of creating the art.

For more contest related information visit:

DNR Turkey Patch Program Press Release

DNR Wild Turkey Cooperator Patch web page

Michigan State University's web page showcasing previous winners

Visit the NWTF website to learn more about their organization at www.nwtf.org.