Virtual County Fair Youth Photo Contest

Summer is county fair season, and we want to celebrate it with you.

This July and August, Heartland is launching our first-ever Virtual County Fair Youth Photo Contest open to young photographers (ages 18 and under) across our service territory. Share the moments, places, and people that make this part of the world worth powering. Winners will receive cash prizes and ribbons, and their photos will be featured on our website, social media, and newsletters.

Categories

Submit one photo per category. All skill levels welcome — smartphone photos are perfectly fine.

• Agriculture — fields, livestock, harvest, equipment, farm life
• Lake Life & Recreation — water, fishing, boating, camping, outdoor fun
• Wildlife & Nature — birds, animals, insects, wildflowers, natural landscapes
• Landscapes — wide-open skies, rural scenery, seasonal beauty
• People & Community — neighbors, gatherings, local events, everyday moments

Prizes

Three ribbon placements are awarded in each category, plus an overall Grand Champion selected from all category winners.

• 🟣 Purple — Grand Champion — 1 Awarded (Best Overall Photo out of All Submissions) — $100
• 🔵 Blue — 1st Place — 5 Awarded (1 Per Category) — $50
• 🔴 Red — 2nd Place — 5 Awarded (1 Per Category) — $25
• ⚪ White — 3rd Place — 5 Awarded (1 Per Category) — $10

Winners receive their ribbon by mail along with their cash prize.

How to Enter

A parent or guardian will need to submit photos on the child’s behalf using this online form:

Submissions are open through Friday, August 21. Winners announced September 1.

Rules & Eligibility

• Open to youth ages 18 and under who live within Heartland REC’s service territory
• Entrants must be submitted by a parent or guardian, who agrees to the photo rights terms on behalf of the photographer
• Photos must be original work taken by the entrant
• One entry per category per entrant
• By submitting, you grant Heartland REC permission to use the photo in member communications, social media, websites, and newsletters
• Photos containing explicit content or commercial advertising will not be accepted
• Photos generated or substantially modified using AI will not be accepted

Questions?

Contact Doug Graham at dougg@heartland-rec.com or (620) 724-5526. We can’t wait to see your corner of Heartland country!