The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Hand Drawn Poster Contest is open to
kindergarten through 12th grade students. Only official state poster contest sponsors can
submit entries for the national contest.

Submission Process:
• All posters must first be judged in a local or area conservation district-sponsored contest and in
a state conservation association or state auxiliary-sponsored contest. Please refer to the
contest flow chart for more information.
• State Poster Contest Coordinators must submit entries through the online submission form
available on the NACD Education Hub Contests page. Email submissions will not be accepted.
• To find the contact responsible for the NACD poster contest in your state/territory, visit the
NACD Conservation District Directory or contact your state conservation association.
State Contest Submissions:
• State conservation district associations, auxiliaries, or other official state poster contest
sponsors will select one poster per grade division (K-1; 2-3; 4-6; 7-9; 10-12) to enter the national
contest. States are not required to submit an entry for every grade division.
• All national contest submissions must be uploaded by midnight local time December 1, 2025.
• Submissions should be in PDF, JPEG, or PNG format.
• File Name Requirement: When submitting your poster, follow the file naming format exactly to
avoid disqualification. There will be no exceptions.

• Format: State_CategoryCode_GradeLevel_LastName_FirstInitial
• State: The full name of your state. Do not abbreviate.
• Category Code: “HD” to indicate a Hand Drawn poster.
• Grade Level: Your grade division
• Last Name: Complete last name. First Initial: The first initial of first name.
  Example: Oklahoma_HD_2_3_McNeal_P

Hand Drawn Poster Contest Rules:
• Traditional hand-drawn posters should be scanned and uploaded as a PDF.
• Scanned files should be flat, straight, and cropped.
• Instructions for scanning to PDF using a cell phone (without an app) are available on the
Contests page.
• Photographs of posters are not recommended due to quality concerns.
• Size: The poster design size should meet state contest requirements. 11 x 17 inches is
preferred for durability (60 lb to 90 lb paper is suggested).
• Media: Any traditional media may be used, including paint, crayon, colored pencil,
charcoal, stickers, paper, or other materials. Mixed media art is welcome.
• Originality: Posters must be created by an individual student—team projects are not
permitted. Tracing or copying from photographs or other artists’ works is not allowed.
• The 2025 Stewardship theme phrase, “Home is Where the Habitat Is,” must be included
in full on the front of each poster to be eligible for the national contest.
• While younger students may receive planning assistance from parents or teachers, NACD
encourages each student to complete their own work.

The NACD Digital (Graphic Design) Poster Contest is open to 7th to 12th grade students.
All posters must first be judged in a local or area conservation district-sponsored contest and in a
state conservation association or state auxiliary-sponsored contest. For more information on local
and state contests, please refer to the contest flow chart.
Submission Process:
• Only official state contest sponsors can submit entries for the national contest.
• Posters must be uploaded through the online submission form available on the NACD
Education Contests page.
• State-level contest sponsors will select one poster per grade division (7 – 9 and 10 – 12) to
enter the national contest.
• States are not required to submit an entry for each grade division.
• All national contest submissions must be received by NACD by midnight local time on
December 1, 2025. Any submissions after midnight will not be considered, no exceptions.

• Submissions should be in PDF, JPEG, or PNG format.
• File Name Requirement: When submitting your digital poster, follow the file naming format exactly
to avoid disqualification: Format: State_CategoryCode_GradeLevel_LastName_FirstInitial

• State: The full name of your state (e.g., Maryland, West Virginia).
• Category Code: The word “Digital” to indicate a digital poster.
• Grade Level: Your grade division (either 7–9 or 10–12).
• Last Name: Your last name. First Initial: The first initial of your first name.
  Example: Maryland_Digital_10_12_Stanley_M 

Design Specifications:
• Posters must be created using graphic design software. Participants are encouraged to use
the latest graphic design tools to enhance their designs.
• Posters must be original work. Only individual students are eligible to submit entries. Group
or team projects will not be accepted.
• Posters must reflect the 2025 Stewardship theme: “Home is Where the Habitat Is.” This
theme must be prominently included in each poster submission.
• Do not include copyrighted, trademarked, or branded marks, images, or phrases, except for
the Stewardship Week 2025 theme statement.
• The design size should meet the specifications outlined by the state contest. 11 x 17 inch
landscape or portrait is preferred.