His entry in the 2010 Merced County Fair’s logo design competition took first place. Keach’s design will be paired with the fair’s theme, “Wetlands, Water & Wildlife.” The theme and logo will appear on posters, T-shirts, billboards, ads, buttons, banners, schedules and other promotional materials used to publicize the fair. The fair will be June 15-20, 2010.

The fair’s Board of Directors selected the winning drawing, which was one of 64 entries The top design features a frog leaping out of the water and a duck perched on a sign that says “Wetlands, Water & Wildlife,” with cattails in the foreground.

Keach, who lives in Atwater, is a graphic artist who works part-time teaching art to school kids. But he’s looking for a full-time job in graphic design after his former employer, a Modesto map company, went out of business.

Keach, will be awarded $500 in prize money, a pair of season passes to the six-day fair, and the thrill that comes from seeing his winning logo splashed all over fair promotions throughout the county. The 2010 theme, “Wetlands, Water & Wildlife,” was the winner submitted by Jeff Denno of Merced. He received $100 for his winning theme and a pair of season passes to the fair.

Keach, 44, isn’t new to the fair’s logo contest. He designed the fair logo in 2007 for the “Gateway to Great Cheese” theme. Taking first place honors in this year’s contest is particularly good timing because it’s a great opportunity to share his artistic success with his art students. He is currently working at an afterschool program teaching drawing, cartooning and sculpting to Madera County elementary school students.

Plus the $500 prize couldn’t come at a better time with the holidays approaching. “It’s great -- I will probably spend it on Christmas gifts,” said the father of two young boys, Logan, 8 and Scottlen, 5. His wife, Lori, spotted a story online about the logo contest and encouraged him to enter the contest again.

The Keach Family is already anticipating going to the fair. The boys are big fans of the Kiddieland rides and Mark and his wife really enjoys the exhibits. He entered some of his artwork in last year’s fair and took home first place ribbons in fine arts for a black and white photo and a sculpture of a Viking.

The contest’s second place logo winner is Alan Cleetus, 14, of Merced. The Merced High School sophomore was encouraged by his graphic arts instructor to enter the contest. The third place logo winner is Carlos Lupian of Merced, a graphic designer at the Turlock Journal newspaper. Each will receive a pair of season passes to the fair.

For more information, call 722-1507 or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com or fax at 722-3773. Go to the 2010 Merced County Fair’s website, www.MercedCountyFair.com