Northeast Iowa –Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area’s (SSNHA) Capture the Heart
of America photo contest celebrates America’s agriculture story through agriculturally related
photos from throughout the nation. This year’s photo contest brought in 421 photos from over
135 participants, representing 34 different states. Photos came from as far as Hawaii and
New York; as well as Iowa, Illinois, Texas, Washington and Pennsylvania.
During the last week of October, the top photo in each of five categories was posted online
for the public to determine the “Best of Show.” Nearly 800 visitors voted for their favorite
photo, with the photo Harvest Time taken by Lisa Hinzman of Guttenberg, Iowa being named
Best of Show. Voters also had a chance to “like” their favorite photo on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/ssnha, with Joyce Meyer’s photo Farm Living is the Life for Me, winning
“Best of Facebook.” Additional entrants receiving recognition as determined by panel judges
may be viewed at www.silosandsmokestacks.org and include:
1st Place: Lisa Hinzman, Guttenberg, IA, American Farmscapes; Terry Brandt,Amarillo, TX, America’s Agricultural Industry; Deb Simpson, Cedar Rapids, IA, Celebrations of America; Jim Grace, Albany, MO, Life on the Farm; Scott Fairbairn, Prairie City, IA, Silos & Smokestacks Partner Sites.
2nd Place: Fred Luhman, Lakewood, CO, American Farmscapes; Alfred Harmon,Spanaway, WA, America’s Agricultural Industry; Stephanie Funke, Manchester, IA, Celebrations of America; Paul Grillo, Des Moines, IA, Life on the Farm; Deidre Fudge, West Des Moines, IA, Silos & Smokestacks Partner Sites.
3rd Place: Trinda Love, Tacoma, WA, American Farmscapes; Donald Frey, Lancaster, PA, America’s Agricultural Industry; Christy Martinez, Casper, WY, Celebrations of America; Joe Hunt, Strasburg, PA, Life on the Farm; Nicole Dernelle-Ruhlow, Cedar Rapids, IA, Silos & Smokestacks Partner Sites.
Honorable Mention: Terry Brandt, Amarillo, TX; Steven Niewoehner, Cedar Falls, IA; Marva Pointer, Miami, MO; Nikki McDonald, Papillion, NE; Fred Luhman, Lakewood, CO; Scott Fairbairn, Prairie City, IA; Deb Simpson, Cedar Rapids, IA; Ira Greenberg, Sunnyvale, CA; Sarah Hovey, Anamosa, IA; Joe Hunt, Strasburg, PA; Ernie Martin, Liberty, OH; Deb Shoning, West Des Moines, IA; Barbara McGraw, Ankeny, IA; Jeremy Whitver, Ankeny, IA; and Juliet Rake, Madison, WI.
“Each year we look forward to the photo contest and the array of photos we receive. This
year it was great to have photos from all over the nation, we definitely had a wide variety of
unique photos displaying America’s agriculture story.” commented Don Short, SSNHA
President.
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. Porter’s Digital Cameras and Imaging,
Cedar Falls, IA, donated the prize for “Best of Show,” a Tamron, 70-300mm Image Stabilizing
Lens and a 12”x18” Custom Frame of the winning photo. Top of Iowa Welcome Center,
Northwood, IA, and Jean Stowell were supporting sponsors. The 2013 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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