Last month, the Great Bend Tree Board announced its 2021 Trick or Tree photo contest that wrapped up on – when else? – Oct. 31. There were four different categories, each with a first-place prize of a $50 gift certificate.

All of the winning tree photos were taken in Great Bend with the exception of Steve Tustin’s cottonwood, located southwest of town.

Here are the results:

• Biggest Tree Trunk Circumference 

The biggest tree had to be a single trunk measured 3 feet from the ground. The winner was an oak tree photo submitted by Amanda Van Skike. Its circumference is 152 inches (12 feet, 8 inches).

A runner-up was a cottonwood tree submitted by Steve Tustin. Its circumference is 147 inches (12 feet, 3 inches).

• Most Unusual

Andrea Bauer’s “family tree” photo won must unusual because it expressed the purpose of the annual Trick of Tree contests, said Tree Board member Toni Rice. “They went out of their way to include their entire family – including family pup,” Rice said. That “(completed) the purpose of our contest with flying colors – to display candidly how very valuable trees are to us as individuals, our families and our communities.”

• Most Beautiful Fall Colors

The winner was a blaze maple submitted by Toyia Roblyer. Monica Bowers and Edith Chavez were runners-up.

• Most Interesting Story

The tree with the most interesting story was submitted by Sandy Zink, along with a photo of a mature maple tree.

“When we purchased our house in the 1980s, there were no trees in the yard,” Zink said. “A friend gave us the maple tree which was about 12 inches tall. It was so small our daughters were able to jump over it. Now we have great shade. But it also is a memory of a good friend.”