In an effort to bolster civic education and educate communities on the role of county government, the National Association of Counties is hosting the 2022 “I Love My County Because” art contest.

Johnson County Government has created a Johnson County-specific entry form to help young residents submit their drawings to the competition.

“Johnson County is a wonderful place to live, work and play, and we’re excited to see how our youngest residents will turn those great experiences into art,” said Sarah VanLanduyt, Arts Council of Johnson County executive director. “This is a fun opportunity for students in first through 12th grades to creatively showcase a county program or serve that represents what they love about Johnson County.

NACo will select 13 submissions and award each winning artist a $100 prize. In addition, NACo will feature the winning art in a 2023 calendar that will be distributed to NACo members nationwide. Winners will be announced in NACo’s publication, County News, and their artwork will be displayed at NACo’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. The contest runs through Oct. 7, 2022.

“We’d love to see your students’ art, and feature select images in our quarterly magazine, JoCo Magazine, and our social media pages. Eligible participants are encouraged to share their submissions on social media with the hashtag #ILoveJoCo,” said Jody Hanson, Johnson County Government director of Public Affairs and Communications.