Rosie Komoto, a fourth grader at Monforton Elementary, will soon start to see her artwork pop up in retail stores across Bozeman after winning a recent contest at the Gallatin Earth Day Festival that challenged students to raise awareness about the importance of using reusable bags. Rosie’s artwork, which tells people, “Don’t Forget to Use Reusable Bags,” was chosen by the City of Bozeman’s Sustainability Board from 98 student entries. Rosie says, "I just wanted to make a simple reminder for people to bring their reusable bags into the store. Maybe if they see my poster, they'll go back to their car and get them!" 

Travis Frandsen, general manager of Bozeman's Town and Country stores, has given the go-ahead for the signs to be placed in the parking areas of his stores to remind people before they leave their cars to bring in their reusable bags!

The art contest was sponsored by Gallatin Valley Beyond Plastics, which awarded eight finalists family-sized pizzas from Papa John’s. Rosie’s entire fourth-grade class also enjoyed a pizza party. Terry Quatraro, of Gallatin Valley Beyond Plastics, says the contest was meant to continue a larger dialogue within Bozeman and across Montana about the adverse effects of single-use plastics on human health and the natural environment.  Students from Monforton, Manhattan, Whittier, Irving, and Hawthorne entered artwork into the contest. 

Thanks to the City of Bozeman’s Sustainability Board, there will be 40 outdoor posters distributed by Gallatin Valley Beyond Plastics to participating retail stores in Bozeman. The most common excuse for not using the many reusable bags people have is, "I forgot to bring my own bag into the store!”