Entries must be submitted by July 1, winning shots to be displayed at State Fair
(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – The Missouri Department of Agriculture launched the 4th annual Focus on Missouri Agriculture contest, asking Missourians to help capture the unique stories and images of agriculture through photographs and videos. The contest, which will run through July 1, asks amateur photographers across the state to submit their best images of a beautiful Missouri farm, of a farm tractor that has been in the family for years and the fun and excitement of a child at agritourism operation.
“This contest will allow Missourians to share their favorite moments with others who share a love for agriculture and those that want to learn more about life on the farm,” said Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler. “Every farm in our state has a story to tell and this is a great way to capture those stories and to share them with others. I look forward to seeing the outstanding work of Missouri farm families and our rural communities come through in every photo.
The Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest is open to Missouri’s amateur photographers of all ages. Participants may enter up to three photos in each of the five categories. Categories include: The Beauty of the Farm, Faces of the Farm, The Farming Life and The Pride of the Farm. The Children’s Barnyard a special category for budding photographers ages 12 and under, is back for the 4th annual contest as well.
Entries will be judged on visual impact, creativity, memorable content and image quality.
The contest offers big prizes and many chances to win thanks to the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s AgriMissouri program. An AgriMissouri gift basket valued at $100 will be award to the First Place winner in each of the four categories. The winner of the Children’s Barnyard category will receive a special gift basket filled with $100-worth of child-friendly items from AgriMissouri. An AgriMissouri gift basket valued at $250 will be award to the Best of Show.
Winners will be announced at the 2012 Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, Aug. 8-18 and the images will be displayed during the State Fair in the Agriculture Building.
For a complete list of rules and guidelines, visit mda.mo.gov/focus. Photos submitted to the contest will be placed on the contest website and available on the Department’s Flickr stream. Photos must be submitted by July 1.
More information about the Missouri Department of Agriculture and its programs is available online at mda.mo.gov.
