Reecie Wise's artistic talent has won her a free trip for she and her family to a dude ranch in Montana.
Wise, 8, and her parents, Bill and Cheryl, and her sister, Janae, 6, and brother Nathaniel, 9, all of Warsaw, will travel to Runamuk Guest Ranch in Roundup, Mont., in August.
All of the children are home-schooled and have never traveled out west before.
For a week, the family will enjoy horseback riding on an 18,000-acre ranch consisting of private land owned by Toby and Jody Dahl.
Children's International Arts Festival founder Carey Kinsolving and Jody phoned Reecie Thursday morning at her home to inform her she was selected out of thousands of applicants to receive the trip.
They also informed her she is the winner of the festival's art competition.
Reecie was with her family in her home when she received the news Thursday morning.
Reecie's two drawings and responses to two festival questions were selected for a competition for the 2010 Children's International Arts Festival.
Kids TalkAboutGod.org is the Web site that hosts the Children's International Arts Festival that publishes the winners writing and art.
The arts festival is an attempt to encourage children to answer and illustrate Bible questions related to the Gospel of John.
At least one of Reecie's winning festival entries will be published in the free, online book.
Reecie's artwork and message can be read at www.kidstalkaboutgod.org/reecie
Reecie, who describes herself as a horse lover, and avid reader, said she had been praying to win the competition and said she hopes to be an artist one day.
Reecie's parents are proud of her and said they are looking forward to taking the vacation with their family.
The festival question Wise was asked to respond to was Why did Jesus say that a prophet has no honor in his own country? John 4:39-45.
Wise drew a photo of a heart and wrote that there wasn't room in the hearts of the people.
She wrote Jesus said a prophet has no honor in his own country because he knew he would be rejected when he died for the world's sins and he would not be recognized as God's son.
Reecie also was asked to respond to the question What can we learn from Jesus healing the nobleman's son?
She responded Jesus showed sympathy and compassion, paid attention to the man and answered his request.
Reece's sister, Janae, received honorable mention for her artwork illustrating how to make Jesus more important in our lives.
She drew a photo and wrote "I can make Jesus more important in my life by treating Jesus like he is my best friend. I love Jesus."
Last year, Riley Hanagan, 11, Warsaw, and Drew Sigler, 7, Columbia City, won a trip to a Colorado dude ranch, as festival winners for their artwork.
