The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ Visitor Education Center (VEC) received over 700 pieces of artwork from students across Mississippi for the 2024 Youth Art Contest. Congratulations to the first-place winners, Mack Hutson, Ainsley McGinty, Farrah Stark, and Avery Clare Lee! The artwork of the top finishers is available for viewing at https://www.mdwfp.com/visitor_education_center/youth-art-contests. The contest was sponsored by the Foundation for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. 2024 marks the 10- year anniversary of the contest with nearly 4,000 students participating since it began in 2014.

The VEC is part of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery and is in Enid, MS at Exit 233 east off I-55. The VEC is the first and only facility of its kind in Mississippi. The Center features a native habitat area, a 10,000-gallon aquarium, interactive exhibits, displays, artifacts, a fishing rodeo pond, gift shop, and gallery. All these elements serve as entertaining and engaging learning experiences for all visitors.

For more information regarding fishing in Mississippi, visit our website at www.mdwfp.com or call us at (601) 432-2212. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfpor on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.

Fishing and Boating