The Kansas Department of Agriculture announced the winners of the 2015 KDA Photo Contest. The third annual statewide contest received nearly 300 entries showcasing Kansas agriculture.
Preliminary voting on Facebook and Pinterest pages tallied votes according to likes, comments and shares. These totals identified the top five photos in each category: Agriculture at Work, Farm Animals, Farm Faces, Picture Perfect Prairie and the Youth Division. Finalist photos were then reviewed by members of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture and agricultural leaders in the Kansas legislature.
“This photo contest is not only a great way to recognize talented photographers across the state, it also allows us to promote the diversity of Kansas agriculture by showcasing these images,” said Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey.
Part of KDA’s mission is to advocate for and promote agriculture, the state’s largest industry, employer and economic contributor. The photo contest allows photographers and KDA to advocate for the agriculture industry in a unique way.
Photos entered in the contest will be used for department publications, social media, website and marketing material. Select photos will also be displayed in KDA’s building.
All photos submitted to the contest are available for viewing on KDA’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KansasDeptofAg.
The winners from each category are as follows:
Agriculture at Work
First Place – Andrea Dix of Stockton, “Chopping Ice”
Second Place – Phil Frigon of Clay Center, “Moving cattle to pasture”
Farm Animals
First Place – Betty Morgan of Wichita, “Elk County Cows”
Second Place – Brandy Marcy of Leoti,  “Just a girl and her calf”
Farm Faces
First Place – Amanda McGuire of Beloit, “Kansas Cowgirl”
Second Place – Kelsie Conard of Wichita County, “It’s hard being a cowboy”
Picture Perfect Prairie
First Place - Chenoa Casebier of Osage City, “Kansas Wheat at Sunset”
Second Place – Gerry Schmanke of Alma, “Brome Field”
Youth
First Place – Michaela Musselman of Clifton, “Sunrise in February”
Second Place – Jordan Moubry of Russell,“Determination Starts Young”
Winners in each category will receive a $100 gift card and runner-up participants will receive a $50 gift card. In addition, select photos entered in the contest will be showcased throughout KDA communications channels.