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2024 I Love My County Art Contest Winners
Students in grades kindergarten through 8 were invited to share their artwork, expressing why they love their Kentucky county. The winners were recognized at the KACo Annual Conference and will be featured in the 2025 KACo Calendar. Congratulations to all of our winners!
First place: Ariana Johnson
Grade: 7
County: Perry
School: Robinson Elementary School
Artist's statement: "I drew a horse to represent why I love Perry County because I enjoy watching them at the park when I hike. The horse park area of Perry County Park is a great place to watch horses and relax. They are so beautiful and are perfect to look at when you are stressed or feel nervous."
Second place: Layla Scoggins
Grade: 5
County: Graves
School: Central Elementary School
Artist's statement: "My county has been through a lot these past few years. The name of my painting is 'From the Rubble We Rise.' We may have lost our courthouse and other buildings in Mayfield, but our spirit is still strong."
Third place: Cam Hiter
Grade: 7
County: Washington
School: North Washington Elementary/Middle School
Artist's statement: "This picture is of the Washington County Judicial Center and our beautiful bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln that is located on Main Street in Springfield. I love that my county has such a rich history, and the statue represents that, as Abe’s parents were married here. Our judicial center also reminds me of the safety that I feel living in Washington County which is another reason that I love it so much, along with all of the government workers, as well as the first responders and law enforcement who work so hard to make sure that everyone follows the laws to keep our county safe."
Kindergarten: Everly Ferguson
County: Menifee
School: Menifee Central Elementary School
- Runner-up: Karstyn Mays-Moore, Jefferson County, Kentucky Country Day School
- Honorable Mention: Braxton McKinney, Lee County, Lee County Elementary School
1st grade: Vera Perry
County: Jefferson
School: Norton Commons Elementary School
Artist's statement: "I love the Louisville Zoo. This is a picture of my favorite tiger at the zoo. Louisville loves animals and so do I."
- Runner-up: Wagner Elliott, Owen County, Elliott Homeschool
- Honorable Mention: Belle Kelley, Pulaski County, Shopville Elementary School
2nd grade: Cruz Melton
County: Muhlenberg
School: Greenville Elementary School
Artist's statement: "This is my drawing of Happy Malone. Happy is special because he is one of six Big Twigs located at Lake Malone State Park in Muhlenberg County, KY. Each Big Twig is unique, but Happy is my favorite because he likes to camp and roast marshmallows just like me!"
- Runner-up: Josiah Jones, Harlan County
- Honorable Mention: Tanishi Batra, Jefferson County, Brandeis Elementary School
- Honorable Mention: Kylie Simpson, Marion County, Glasscock Elementary School
3rd grade: Magaly Hernandez
County: Marion
School: Glasscock Elementary School
Artist's statement: "I love the hot air balloons at Ham Days in Marion County."
- Runner-up: Aniston Peters, Leslie County, WB Muncy Elementary School
- Honorable Mention: Lukas Potter, Letcher County, Martha-Jane Potter Elementary School
- Honorable Mention: Clara Miller, Shelby County, Miller Homeschool
4th grade: Kelsey Blue
County: Hopkins
School: Jesse Stuart Elementary School
Artist's statement: "I love living in the farming state. The countryside, and old barns are beautiful. I love 'My Old Kentucky Home.'"
- Runner-up: Blayke Browning, Barren County, Eastern Elementary School
- Honorable Mention: Ava Haynes, Jefferson County, Hawthorne Elementary School
- Honorable Mention: Josiah Baker, Mercer County, Mercer County Intermediate School
- Honorable Mention: Ella Crisp, Daviess County, Southern Oaks Elementary School
5th grade: Raylin Mischel
County: Daviess
School: Owensboro Catholic School 4-6 Campus
Artist's statement: "I love my county because it is very pretty and so much fun to be outside. I have painted the woods and trail by my house where my friends and I play all the time. I love where I live."
- Runner-up: Dixie Grigsby, Washington County, North Washington Elementary School
- Honorable Mention: Zoe Walker, Monroe County, Gamaliel Elementary School
- Honorable Mention: Blakely Mosier, Barren County, North Jackson Elementary School
6th grade: Nyhla Johnson
County: Lincoln
School: Lincoln County Middle School
Artist's statement: "This is my home in the winter. I love my county because they keep us safe in bad weather."
- Runner-up: Audrey Miller, Shelby County, Miller Homeschool
- Honorable Mention: Evan Cannon, Warren County, Cumberland Trace Elementary School
- Honorable Mention: Shelby Foster, Fleming County, Simons Middle School
- Honorable Mention: Millie Seale, Estill County, Estill County Middle School
7th grade: Noelle Michael
County: Hardin
School: TK Stone Middle School
Artist's statement: "My artwork illustrates the U.S. Gold Depository in Fort Knox. I created it using a combination of acrylic paint and paper quilling. I love my county because it is the home of Fort Knox and the Gold Depository, which represents strength and security."
- Runner-up: Jed Schweickhardt, Boyle County, John W. Bate Middle School
- Honorable Mention: Kylinn Warner, Boyle County, John W. Bate Middle School
- Honorable Mention: Tori Probus, Marion County, Lebanon Middle School
- Honorable Mention: Peyton Moore, Boyd County, Boyd County Middle School
- Honorable Mention: Camden Herst, Fayette County, SCAPA
- Honorable Mention: Gavin DeSpain, Marion County, Marion County Middle School
8th grade: Mara Collins
County: Boone
School: Camp Ernst Middle School
Artist's statement: "My piece displayed elements of my county that I especially love, including the Florence Y'all's tower, a Ferris wheel, and the Big Bone Lick sign. I added the tower because when I see it, I know exactly where I am, I added the Ferris wheel as it represents the Boone County fair, and the Big Bone Lick sign because of the number of historic elements my county has to offer. Lastly, I wanted to implement an abundance of plant life to show just how environmentally atmospheric my county is."
- Runner-up: Sophia Young, Fayette County, Homeschool
- Honorable Mention: Louella Reynolds, Hardin County, TK Stone Middle School
- Honorable Mention: Chloe Miller, Perry County, Robinson Elementary School
- Honorable Mention: Brooklynn Dills, Grant County, Williamstown Jr. High School
- Honorable Mention: Aniston Graydon, Mason County, Mason County Middle School