Statewide bookmark winner: Westside student takes top award

Posted 4/27/17

Nyah Johnson, a third-grader at Westside Elementary School, won the People’s Choice Award in the Wyoming Department of Agriculture’s 2017 Bookmark Contest.

Johnson’s artwork emerged as the favorite out of a record 3,071 entries submitted …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Statewide bookmark winner: Westside student takes top award

Posted

A Powell student’s picture of Heart Mountain overlooking a variety of crops drew admiration from across the state.

Nyah Johnson, a third-grader at Westside Elementary School, won the People’s Choice Award in the Wyoming Department of Agriculture’s 2017 Bookmark Contest.

Johnson’s artwork emerged as the favorite out of a record 3,071 entries submitted from students around Wyoming.

When asked why she wanted to participate in the statewide contest, the 9-year-old said her great-grandpa Sterling Johnson homesteaded on Heart Mountain as a dairy farmer. Johnson also said she loves Heart Mountain.

Her winning entry is inscribed with a simple message: Heart and Soul of Wyoming.

Johnson said crops and land are important for the animals and the people who live here, because crops provide food for everyone.

“Her depiction of Wyoming’s natural resources and agriculture on her winning bookmark is a perfect example of her creativity and understanding of our beautiful region and state,” said Angie Woyak, Westside principal, adding that the school is very proud of her award.

Woyak described Johnson as “an incredibly talented and hard-working student who quietly leads by example and through her many accomplishments.”

Johnson’s bookmark will be displayed at Westside beginning this week and through the next school year.

Gov. Matt Mead and Doug Miyamoto, director of the Department of Agriculture, recognized Johnson on Friday in Cheyenne. Her third-grade teacher, Kix Carter, went to Cheyenne to support her.

Johnson is the daughter of Joel and Michele Johnson of Powell.

Last week’s celebration in Cheyenne — which included 10 other finalists from across the state — recognized students’ artistic achievements and their ability to interpret agriculture and natural resource concepts.

Every year, Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom encourages students in grades 2-5 to submit hand-drawn bookmarks for the program. The students’ artwork is published and distributed around the state. For copies of the bookmarks or information about the program, contact Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom at 307-369-1749 or visit www.wyaitc.org.

Comments