Northeast Iowa – In its fifth year, Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area’s (SSNHA)
Capture the Heart of America Photo Contest continues to involve residents and visitors to the
Heritage Area in preserving their own pieces of America’s agricultural story. This year’s
contest brought in 540 photos from 150 participants including Heritage Area visitors from
Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Georgia and Texas.
During the first week of November, the top photo in each of five categories was posted online
for the public to determine the “Best of Show.” Over 400 visitors voted for their favorite photo,
with the photo “Fall Fields,” taken by Josh Goodell of Waterloo, IA being named “Best of
Show.”
Additional entrants receiving recognition may be viewed at www.silosandsmokestacks.org
and include:
1st Place: Jason Arends, Lake Mills, WI, Farm Life; Josh Goodell, Waterloo, IA
Farmscapes; Jerry Ranch, West Des Moines, IA, Festivals & Fairs; Marty Jacobs,
Slater, IA, Heritage Area Sites, Ed Siems, Marshalltown, IA, Images of the Past.
2nd Place: Kim Powell, Blue Grass, IA, Farm Life; Ronald Tigges, Dubuque, IA,
Farmscapes; Jason Mrachina, Pleasant Hill, IA, Festivals & Fairs; Howard Vrankin,
Newton, IA, Heritage Area Sites; Elaine Walker, Oelwein, IA, Images of the Past.
3rd Place: Nancy Hayes, Stanley, IA, Farm Life; Gary Hamer, Robins, IA,
Farmscapes; Phil Roeder, Des Moines, IA, Festivals & Fairs; Gary Hamer, Robins,
IA, Heritage Area Sites; Ann Cejka, Cedar Rapids, IA, Images of the Past.
Honorable Mention: Thomas DeHoff, Worthington, IA; Tracy Belle, Independence,
IA; Juanita Andersen, New Hampton, IA; Rebecca Kauten, Cedar Falls, IA;
Matthew Mason, Coralville, IA; Jerry Ranch, West Des Moines, IA; Jason
Mrachina, Pleasant Hill, IA; William Connor, Manchester, IA; Ronald Tigges,
Dubuque, IA; Delores Rohlf, Tipton, IA; Scott Fairbairn, Prairie City, IA; Ed Siems,
Marshalltown, IA; Iowa State Fair, Des Moines, IA; Bob Rude, Coralville, IA; Ann
Highum, Decorah, IA; Dona Bark, DeWitt, IA.
“We’d like to congratulate all of the entrants in this year’s contest on their amazing photos.
Each photo truly holds its own unique story,” commented Don Short, SSNHA President.
Thank you to Porters Digital Camera’s and Imaging for donating this year’s prizes for Best of
Show and 1st Place. The 2012 Capture the Heart of America Photo Contest will be
announced this coming spring.
Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area is one of 49 federally designated heritage areas
in the nation and is an Affiliated Area of the National Park Service. The Heritage Area covers
37 counties in the northeast quadrant of Iowa. Interstate 80 borders it on the south and
Interstate 35 borders it on the west. Through a network of sites, programs and events,
SSNHA interprets farm life, agribusiness, and rural communities – past and present.
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