Northeast Iowa– Photographers from near and far kept their shutter fingers busy this
summer as they took part in Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area’s (SSNHA) first
annual photo contest. The contest, themed Capture the Heart of America, showcased the
beauty of the Heritage Area through over 130 photos, submitted in five unique categories.
Photos were received from 38 entrants in five different states; including Iowa, Illinois,
Minnesota, Missouri and Oregon.
Winning photos may be viewed at www.silosandsmokestacks.org and include:
Best of Show: Larry Mendenhall, Altoona, IA.
1st Place: Megan Baron, Des Moines, IA, Events & Festivals; Wilford Yoder, Iowa
City, IA, Farm Life; Leslie Glasgow, Blue Springs, MO, Heritage Area Site; Tom
Shearer, Duluth, MN, Historic; and Larry Mendenhall, Altoona, IA, Scenic.
2nd Place: Leonard Struttmann, Hiawatha, IA, Events/Festivals; John Lichty,
Waterloo, IA, Farm Life; Lisa Brainard, Preston, MN, Heritage Area Site; Joyce A.
Meyer, Spillville, IA, Historic; and Larry Mendenhall, Altoona, IA, Scenic.
3rd Place: Diane C. Thayer, Iowa City, IA, Events/Festivals; Megan Baron, Des
Moines, IA, Farm Life; Joyce A. Meyer, Spillville, IA, Heritage Area Site; Douglas
Monk, Monticello, IA, Historic; and Joyce A. Meyer, Spillville, IA, Scenic.
“It was a pleasure to see the wide array of images submitted.” commented Don Short,
SSNHA Executive Director. “The photos help to interpret the true beauty of the region, which
is difficult to portray through words alone.”
With the fall harvest season upon us, it’s a great time to explore the Heritage Area and
get a head start on photos for the 2008 contest, to be announced this coming spring.
Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area is one of 37 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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