A Highland Hills Elementary School student didn’t have to look far for inspiration in entering the Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom’s annual Calendar Art Contest.

“I drew a watermelon because in Hermiston we are known for watermelons,” Dustin Sanders wrote with his submission.

The youngster also drew and colored a sun because, he wrote, sunlight and water are needed to help watermelons grow. And Dustin, who is entering the fourth grade next week, should know because his family grew several in their backyard garden.

Mackenzie Juul, Dustin’s third grade teacher, encouraged students to draw on their creativity during a classroom project. The statewide contest, open to students in kindergarten through sixth grade, asked for original artwork depicting Oregon’s diverse agricultural and natural resource commodities. More than 2,100 entries were submitted.

Dustin’s mother, Amanda Brown, wasn’t aware of the special drawing — until receiving a phone call from the school, informing her that her son was selected as one of the winners. Brown said they decided to include the trip to the Classroom Calendar Art Contest reception as part of a blended family vacation.

Held Friday, Aug. 26 at the Oregon State Fair, everyone received free gate admission, she said. A total of 10 traveled to Salem to cheer Dustin on.

“I don’t know how many kids entered but it was a pretty big deal,” Dustin Sanders, the boy’s father, said. “We all went to support him. It was pretty cool.”

Jessica Jansen, AITC executive director, said in a press release the cover and each month of the calendar feature student artwork. In addition, each day includes a fact about agriculture. Jansen said it is a great project for both students and teachers.

“It gives teachers an opportunity to discuss the bounty and beauty of Oregon agriculture and incorporate art into their classrooms,” she said.

Each of the 13 winning students received $50 and a certificate commemorating their achievement. In addition, their artwork will appear in the 2022-23 school-year calendar, is featured on the AITC website via www.oregonaitc.org and remains on display at the Oregon State Fair, which runs through Labor Day — Monday, Sept. 5.

The cash prize, Brown said, provided lots of pocket money for Dustin to enjoy the state fair. She said he especially liked the Paul Bunyan Lumber Jack Show and riding a mechanical bull.

“I had fun going on a bunch of rides and going on stage and talking about my drawing,” he said. “I’m thankful for my parents being there.”

And Dustin even had enough money after returning home, his mother said, to splurge on a smoothie from Dutch Bros. Coffee. He still has a few dollars left and is pondering making a purchase on Amazon.