Ayelu Mason, 15, of Hayes, was one of the winners of the 2025 Restore the Wild Artwork Competition, held by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Artists from all over Virginia and other states submitted 97 entries for the competition, which each year, the contest calls for submissions from the public that reflect Restore the Wild’s mission to restore and create natural habitats vital to the survival of Virginia’s wildlife. Her artwork, along with the other winners’ pieces, was displayed at The Gallery at Main Street Station in Richmond. Mason won the 11-17 division for her gouache painting “The Sturgeon of Steel Ascends.” “I love both animals and art, so being recognized for my artistic abilities combining both my passions means a lot to me,” Mason said. “I was inspired to compete in this competition because I love to capture the beauty in nature. While researching the Atlantic Sturgeon, I learned that they clean riverbeds, contributing to the maintenance of a balanced enviro...