Northeast Iowa – Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) is looking for the public’s assistance in determining which agriculturally-inspired photo deserves to be named this year’s “Best of Show” in the Capture the Heart of America Photo Contest. From Nov 4-10, voting for “Best of Show” will be open at www.silosandsmokestacks.org, with the top photographer receiving a $500 cash prize. Finalists are comprised of the first place photos in each of five categories as judged by a panel of three professional photographers. This year’s finalists include:
- Tony Reynes, Glenview, IL – September Morn (American Farmscapes)
- Terry Brandt, Amarillo, TX – Branding Time (Life on the Farm)
- Thomas DeHoff, Worthington, IA – Motor Mill (Silos & Smokestacks Partner Sites)
- Eric Anderson, Omaha, NE – Duster (America’s Agricultural Industry)
- Theresa Wrobel, Lawrenceville, NJ – 3 Cowboys (Celebrations of Agriculture)
With 508 photos, from 174 photographers, representing 24 different states, it was a difficult job for the judges to narrow it down to five finalists. To give the public a chance to like and comment on their personal favorites, all of the photos submitted have been uploaded to an album for the contest at www.facebook.com/ssnha. The top five most “liked” photos during the voting period will receive a copy of PhotoDirector 5, CyberLink’s award winning photo editing software.
“Since we first launched the photo contest in 2007, it has grown tremendously. Beginning as a small regional contest, it is now receiving photos documenting different parts of America’s agricultural story from across the entire country.” commented Don Short, SSNHA President.
SSNHA hosts the Capture the Heart of America Photo Contest each year to give photographers from across the nation the opportunity to share their own piece of America’s agricultural story. Thank you to all of the amazing photographers for sharing their photos and this year’s contest sponsors for helping to make the contest possible, including Solon Andreas Foundation, Land O’ Lakes, Inc., and CyberLink. Also, thank you to this year’s judges for donating their time and expertise, including Dan Nierling, Kent Foster, and Mark Peterson.
SSNHA 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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