Poppy Program
Cheryl Gustafson – Department Chairman
poppies@ndala.org
Photo courtesy: IceBerg Images by Candace (Candace Berg)
Poppy_Poster_Contest_Rules 2027
Poppy_Poster_Cover_Sheet 2027
Deadline for Poppy Poster Contest: May 15, 2027
Poppy Order Form – Due November 1
Poppies were distributed by American Legion Posts and Auxiliary Units across North Dakota. They were featured in artwork, bookmarks, door hangers, and wreaths. They were used in Veterans Day and Memorial Day programs, and they were also distributed door-to-door in local communities. Nearly 25,000 small poppies and 1,200 large poppies were distributed.
Units reached out to local schools in an effort to teach our young people about the meaning of the poppy and encouraged students to participate in the Poppy Poster Contest. Six first place prizes and certificates were awarded with the winning poster being sent to the Northwestern Division Poppy Chairman in May.
Carol Wolf (Past Chairman), 2026 Year-End Report
- 2026 Poppy Calendar
- 2026 Poppy Poster Contest Winners and Year-End Report
- Poppy Templates 4-2026
- Making Poppies Step by Step 2025
- Poppy Funds usage
- Poppy Promotion Program
- Poppies Coloring Book
- Poppy Cookie Recipe
- National Poppy Day (May 28, 2027)
- Flanders Field Bookmark Sample
- Poppy Program Certificate
- Poppy Story
- Message of the Poppy Poem 1933
Poppy Order Form– Due November 1st, 2026
Gackle Unit 250 Junior Poppy Queen Charlee Seigman (wearing ribbon).
Judges for 2026 Poppy Poster contest. Back (l-r): Cheryl Gustafson, Poppy Co-chairman; Carol Wolf, Poppy Chairman; and Candace Berg, Department President. Front (l-r): Marcy Schmidt, Department Secretary; Donna Kolden, ND local artist; and Deb Bendickson. Photo submitted by Candace Berg
Front (l-r): Susan Degner, Department Treasurer; Ms. Kain Lee, and Laura Rutherford, Unit 147 Poppy Chairman, Back: Kyann Lee (Kain’s mother).
Members of American Legion Auxiliary Paul Farup Unit 147 of Park River presented a certificate, gift card, and art supplies to Kain Lee, Northwestern Division 2025 Winner (Class IV) Poppy Poster Contest. Kain was one of many contestants who participated in the Poppy Poster Contest sponsored by the Park River unit. Kain’s artwork was judged and sent to Northwestern Division in May 2025. Congratulations Kain.
American Legion Auxiliary Mayer-Morlock Unit 250 of Gackle sponsored a Poppy Poster Contest at the Gackle-Streeter Public School. Twelve winning posters were selected. Those twelve winning posters were then forwarded to the North Dakota Department Poppy Chairman for judging.
Students with winning poppy posters. Pictured (l-r): Jenna Homola, Emma Heller, and Courtney Remboldt. Article and photo submitted by Elaine Ackerman, Unit 250 President.
Six winning poppy posters were selected at the Department Level. Three of the six state winning poppy posters were from Gackle-Streeter. Department winners were announced at the Gackle-Streeter All School Assembly on October 9, 2025. Each winner received a certificate, a $25.00 gift card and 10 note cards personalized with their poppy poster on the front.
Congratulations!
Ways to Promote the Poppy Program and increase revenue:
• Wear a poppy to promote conversation and interest.
• Promote the Poppy Poster Contest in your local schools.
• Educate your community about how funds collected help veterans, servicemembers, and their families.
• Contact local businesses for permission to distribute poppies on their premises. Make sure you have permission for liability purposes; in some instances, permits are required.
• Send a thank you to businesses that allow distribution. Consider using the Poppy Poster thank you cards, available for purchase through Emblem Sales, for your communication.
• Organize a Department poppy drive with The American Legion Family. Encourage The American Legion, Sons of The American Legion, Legion Riders, and ALA Junior members to join poppy distributions in your community.
National Resources
