THIEF RIVER FALLS – When Taylor Leback submitted artwork for the Minnesota Pheasant Stamp Contest in 2024, she misunderstood the directions and her entry was disallowed.

“I read the rules wrong,” Leback said. “I’m used to the Federal Duck Stamp rules. I didn’t read them closely enough, and I missed the mark.”

Unlike the Federal Duck Stamp contest, which requires only that entries be postmarked by the due date, the Minnesota Pheasant Stamp contest requires entries be at Department of Natural Resources headquarters in St. Paul by the due date, Leback says.

A farm bill biologist for Pheasants Forever-Minnesota in Marshall, Pennington and west Polk counties, Leback didn’t make the same mistake twice.

This year – Leback’s first official attempt – the Thief River Falls artist finished third

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