Capture the Heart of America Photo Contest Winners Announced

Northeast Iowa – Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) preserves and shares America’s agricultural story through a network of partnerships in a federally designated 37-county region of Northeast Iowa. Each year, Silos & Smokestacks hosts the Capture the Heart of America Photo Contest, allowing photographers from across the nation assist in preserving this important story. This year’s contest attracted 508 agriculturally-inspired images from 174 accomplished photographers, representing 24 different states.

The 1st place photos in each category as chosen by a panel of judges were posted online from November 4-10 for the public to determine the “Best of Show.” Nearly 800 visitors voted for their favorite photo, with Thomas DeHoff of Worthington, Iowa, earning “Best of Show” for his photo titled Motor Mill. Voters also had the opportunity to “like” their favorite photos on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ssnha. Award winners and the top five Most “Liked” may be viewed online by clicking here and they include:

• 1st Place: Tony Reynes, Glenview, IL, American Farmscapes; Terry Brandt, Amarillo, TX, Life on the Farm; Theresa Wrobel, Lawrenceville, NJ, Celebrations of Agriculture; Thomas DeHoff, Worthington, IA, Silos & Smokestacks Partner Sites; and Eric Anderson, Omaha, NE, America’s Agricultural Industry.
• 2nd Place: Terri Dermody, Des Moines, IA, American Farmscapes; Scott Fairbairn, Prairie City, IA, Life on the Farm; Barbara Briggs, Grinnell, IA, Celebrations of Agriculture; Mackenzie Wearda-Serbus, Hampton, IA, Silos & Smokestacks Partner Sites; and Rob Erick, Brecksville, OH, America’s Agricultural Industry.
• 3rd Place: Trinda Love, Tacoma, WA, American Farmscapes; Angie Roach, Idaho Falls, ID, Life on the Farm; Lindsay Postma, Peterson, IA, Celebrations of Agriculture; Scott Fairbairn, Prairie City, IA, Silos & Smokestacks Partner Sites; and Rachel Ritland, Stanhope, IA, America’s Agricultural Industry.
• Most “Liked”: Bridget Hein, Monticello, IA, Life on the Farm; Sarah Wall, Iowa City, IA, Life on the Farm; Angie Roach, Idaho Falls, ID, Life on the Farm; Mackenzie Wearda-Serbus, Hampton, IA, Silos & Smokestacks Partner Sites; and Joyce Meyer, Spillville, IA, America’s Agricultural Industry.
• Honorable Mention: Eric Anderson, Omaha, NE, American Farmscapes; Rose Wurtzberger, New Ulm, MN, American Farmscapes; Ginny Santora, Sayreville, NJ, American Farmscapes; Lori Moilanen, Hudson, WI, American Farmscapes; Jay Brandinger, Pennington, NJ, Life on the Farm; Warren E. Wilson, Lanham, MD, Celebrations of Agriculture; Dean Traver, Mount Vernon, IA, Celebrations of Agriculture; Dave Austin, Ankeny, IA, Silos & Smokestacks Partner Sites; and Louisa Murzyn, Munster, IN, America’s Agricultural Industry; Paula Maxheim, Des Moines, IA, America’s Agricultural Industry.

“Photos tell stories that are often hard to convey with words alone. Our photo contest offers a unique opportunity to capture and share a diversity of American agricultural stories,” commented Don Short, SSNHA President.

We would like to take time to thank all of the amazing photographers for sharing their photos and this year’s panel of judges for volunteering their time and expertise; judges include Dan Nierling, Kent Foster and Mark Peterson. Also, a huge thanks to our sponsors who made it all possible! Sponsors of this year’s contest include: Solon Andreas Foundation, Land O’ Lakes, Inc. and CyberLink. We look forward to announcing the 2014 Capture the Heart of America Photo Contest this upcoming spring. For more information, contact Aaron Steinmann at asteinmann@silosandsmokestacks.org or 319-234-4567.

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. Bordered by Interstate 80 on the south and Interstate 35 on the west, the heritage area covers 37 counties in the northeast quadrant of Iowa. Through a network of sites, programs and events, SSNHA interprets farm life, agribusiness, and rural communities – past and present.