JACKSON BOY DRAWS WINNING CARD; ENTRY TOPS IN STATE IN NATIONWIDE MOTHER'S DAY CARD CONTEST

JACKSON -- Most kids' hand-made Mother's Day cards eventually wind up displayed on the refrigerator.

But you can see Ricky Feiner's card all this month at the Empire State Building.

Ricky said he wasn't sure if he'd have another card for Mother's Day today.

His mother, Debra, joked that her son "never" makes cards for her.

"That's the only one I've ever gotten, and now I don't even have it," she said.

Ricky, 12 and a sixth-grader at St. Paul Lutheran School in Jackson, was one of 51 national finalists in the Kentucky Fried Chicken/Family Circle All-American Salute to Mothers greeting card contest. His entry, which features abstract flowers, was the Missouri state winner.

A Wyoming girl won the grand prize -- her entry was featured for sale at Carlton Cards outlets nationally.

As a state finalist, Ricky received a Rand McNally "Picture Atlas of the World" and Rand McNally's "Picture Atlas of Prehistoric Atlas."

Debra read about the contest in Family Circle magazine last fall and suggested to Ricky that he enter it.

"It was just something to do on a cold, rainy day," she said.

"I like drawing, so I figured I'd go with it," Ricky said, adding he keeps a sketchbook filled with drawings at home.

He said he likes drawing "usually people, and a whole bunch of different stuff."

Ricky had a little trouble deciding what to draw for his entry, and finally settled on flowers.

"It just seemed like that's what most Mother's Day cards have, and that's what my mom liked," he said.

Ricky said he usually just uses a pencil, but he also likes watercolors and poster paints.

Ricky was one of 3,500 fourth, fifth and sixth grade students from around the country to enter the contest.

Entries were judged on writing, illustration, originality and sincerity of expression.

The contest was established in 1982.