A ten year old girl in Wyocena found out Thursday she is a big winner in an international writing contest. NBC 15's Michelle Riell was there when she first found out. 10 year old Jennifer Novey entered her essay in the Children's International Arts Festival, and found out today she is one of a dozen winners. Now, not only will she get her essay and illustration published, she also won a trip to a Dude Ranch in Idaho.

Michelle Riell asks, "Are you speechless?" to which Jennifer Novey replies, "Mmmhm." Jennifer was at home, in the middle of a home school lesson, when she found out over the phone her essay was selected as a grand prize winner. The voice from the phone says, "How's that sound? to which Jennifer replies, "Good!"

Jennifer saw the contest in a magazine, which challenged kids ages five to 12 to answer and illustrate a bible related question. She wrote about why she believes Jesus is the Messiah. And, for a girl of few words, she crafted an award winning essay. Jennifer reads her essay, "Jesus knows everything can do anything and fills the description of the prophets, the things the prophets said have come true, so I really believe Jesus is the Messiah."

She also drew a scroll and placed a verse from the bible inside to illustrate her essay. Jennifer reads the scroll, which says, "But he was wounded and crushed for our sins, he was beaten that we might have peace, he was whipped and we were healed, Isaiah 53:5." But, what really got the judges' attention was that Jennifer didn't just write the verse in English. Jennifer says, "I looked up in a bible where there's Hebrew and English and I looked up a verse that describes Jesus and I copied it down in Hebrew."

Her mom and dad are proud, but not surprised. Laura Novey says, "She writes a lot in her journal, um, she's a deep thinker, so it didn't surprise me." But did surprise their little girl, who is most looking forward to, Jennifer says, "Riding horses."

The Novey's are planning to go to the Red Horse Mountain Dude Ranch this summer, a trip donated by the ranch. This will be the farthest trip the family has taken and say they will also make stops at Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore.

The contest is still going on. The contest is still accepting arts festival entries through March 31st. Their website contains entry forms, guidelines and videos of last summer's winners: www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org.