• Anna’s art graces cover of calendar
    Artwork by Cass County 6th grader Anna Ransom of Atlanta Middle School is featured on the cover of the 2024 NACo calendar.

Anna’s art graces cover of calendar

The entry is one of 13 winners in the “I Love My County Because” student art competition. In an effort to bolster civic education and educate communities on the role of county government, the National Association of Counties (NACo) conducted an “I Love My County Because…” Student Art Contest.

The program is sponsored by Americans for the Arts, one of the nation’s largest arts advocacy and research organizations. Artwork submissions are judged on technical skill, creativity, along with the artist’s statement. Each year the art contest has a different statement prompt. Entries are accepted from late April until late September with winners announced in January.

Anna’s original artwork is featured in the 2024 calendar and in a gallery at NACo headquarters in Washington, DC. Winners receive a copy of the calendar, a certificate, and a $100 gift card. Anna’s piece is a watercolor depicting a stream lined by trees and rocks similar to the TxDOT Atlanta campus.

NACo and county leaders help spread the word about county roles and responsibilities, which are often unknown or misunderstood. By inviting children and young adults K-12 to create artwork for the 2024 “Counties Matter” calendar, NACo hopes to raise awareness about programs and services that impact people’s daily lives. This month’s edition of CountyNews, a publication of the National Association of Counties also features Anna’s artwork on the front page.