July 20, 2016

Winning photographs on display throughout State Fair and available online

2016 Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest Winners Announced

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – A portrait showing generational farming of a father and son working in the shop is the Best in Show for the 2016 Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest, hosted by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The photograph, submitted by Megan Lowery of Puxico, Mo., was chosen from the record-breaking 980 photos submitted by amateur photographers from across Missouri. 

“Capturing the essence of Missouri agriculture on film is no easy task, but the talented amateur photographers who stepped behind the camera this year have accomplished just that,” Director of Agriculture Richard Fordyce said. “These images showcase the diversity of agriculture and the beauty of our Missouri family farms.”

Photos submitted by individuals 13 and older were placed into five categories: Beauty of the Farm, Faces of the Farm, Farm Selfie, Farmer's Life and Pride of the Farm. Photographers age 12 and under entered their shots in the Children's Barnyard category. In total, 25 winners were selected by a panel of judges consisting of Shannon Yokley, Brownfield Ag News; Ben Yarnell, Missouri Division of Tourism and Tisha Spencer, Firehouse Design. 

In addition to awarding winners in each of these categories, the department introduced a People’s Choice Award this year. The winning photos were posted on Facebook from June 22-30 and a winner was selected based on the number of shares, comments and likes.

The winning photos will be on display throughout the Missouri State Fair Aug. 11-21, 2016, in the Agriculture Building. The winners will be recognized at the Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture Dec. 14-16, 2016, at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach. The 2016 winners are:

BEST IN SHOW:

“Generational” by Megan Lowery of Puxico, Mo.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE:

“Grandpa’s Last Ride” by Juliane Sykes of Chillicothe, Mo.

BEAUTY OF THE FARM:

1st Place: “Harvest Sunset” by Suzanne Loepker of Beaufort, Mo.

Runner-up: “Dusk to Dawn” by Ashley Homan of Pilot Grove, Mo.

Honorable Mention: “Stargazing” by Christine Peper of Jefferson City, Mo.

Honorable Mention: “Grazing” by Aubrey Fletcher of Purdy, Mo.

FACES OF THE FARM: 

1st Place: “Ol’ Farmer Brown” by Nova Hughes of Bolckow, Mo.

Runner-up: “Is that good?” by Christine Mattson of Conception Junction, Mo.

Honorable Mention: “Generations are Cowboys” by Krystal Simpson of Salem, Mo.

Honorable Mention: “Got ‘Em” by Ashley Homan of Pilot Grove, Mo.

FARMER'S LIFE:

1st Place: “New Day, Same Job” by Laura Bardot of Lonedell, Mo.

Runner-up: “Grandpa’s Last Ride” by Juliane Sykes of Chillicothe, Mo.

Honorable Mention: “Old Planter” by Audra Linebaugh of Marceline, Mo.

Honorable Mention: “Favorite Boots” by Steve Eichelberger of Columbia, Mo.

FARMER'S LIFE:

1st Place: “New Day, Same Job” by Laura Bardot of Lonedell, Mo.

Runner-up: “Grandpa’s Last Ride” by Juliane Sykes of Chillicothe, Mo.

Honorable Mention: “Old Planter” by Audra Linebaugh of Marceline, Mo.

Honorable Mention: “Favorite Boots” by Steve Eichelberger of Columbia, Mo.

PRIDE OF THE FARM:

1st Place: “Goat Farmer” by Ashley Homan of Pilot Grove, Mo.

Runner-up: “Till the Sun Goes Down” by Laurie Link of Meadville, Mo.

Honorable Mention: “Matt’s Truck” by Kari Frey of St. Louis, Mo.

Honorable Mention: “Soybean Harvest” by Russell Flair of Blackburn, Mo.

FARM SELFIE:

1st Place: “All Eyes on the Camera” by Donna Lindahl St. Dennis of Knob Noster, Mo.

Runner-up: “Daddy’s Little Farmer” by Samantha Olsson of Warrenton, Mo.

Honorable Mention: “Farm and ‘Her’” by Aubrey Fletcher of Purdy, Mo.

Honorable Mention: “Hereford Love” by Kenadee Barnitz of Lake Springs, Mo.

CHILDREN'S BARNYARD:

1st Place: “Just Like Mama” by Samuel Jordan of St. Joseph, Mo.

Runner-up: “Bacon in the Makin’” by Devyn Keller of Farber, Mo.

Honorable Mention: “Grain Truck Switches” by Kendall Link of Meadville, Mo.

Honorable Mention: “Hungry Chicken” by Megan Weaver of Savannah, Mo.

All the photos entered in this year’s contest can be found on the department's Flickr stream. 

The 2017 Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest will launch during the Missouri State Fair, August 11-21, 2016. To submit photos, complete the online form on the department web site. A complete list of rules and guidelines is available on the site as well. Photos must be submitted by June 1, 2017.

For more information on the 2016 Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest and other Missouri Department of Agriculture programs, visit the department online at agriculture.mo.gov.

###