last year's winner

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) _ A 17-year-old girl from Banner County has won her second Nebraska Junior Duck Stamp Contest in a row.

The 2009 entry from Bethany Cooper of Harrisburg won best of show among more than 650 entries.

Her artwork will be used to create the 2010 Nebraska waterfowl stamp.

Cooper's acrylic painting of a wood duck has been entered in the national competition, which will be held in Washington, D.C., on April 22.

The national winner will receive $5,000, a trip to the nation's capital, and his or her artwork will be used to make the 2008-2009 junior duck stamp.

Proceeds from the duck stamps sales support conservation education. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)