Indiana Agriculture Photo Contest now accepting entries

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Do you have a passion for agriculture? Do you have an eye for photography?

If so, you're in luck, as the Indiana Department of Agriculture (DoA) announced this week that it will accept submissions for the 17th annual Indiana Agriculture Photo Contest through the month of June.

“Each and every Hoosier is welcome to submit an entry to the contest,” said Suzanne Crouch, Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development and Lt. Governor. “No matter the camera equipment you own, we encourage you to submit your best images showcasing Indiana agriculture.”

The photo contest categories are:

• On the Farm: Showcasing any building, piece of equipment or activity that is a part of life on an Indiana farm.
• Faces of Agriculture: Featuring those who grow and produce food, fuel and fiber in Indiana.
• Agritourism: Spotlighting Indiana’s seasonal and agricultural destinations, such as orchards, wineries and farmers markets.
• Conservation: Highlighting Indiana’s natural beauty with landscapes, water and wildlife.

There will be two winners selected from each category and two overall winners, for a total of 10 contest winners who will be invited to a special ceremony at the Indiana State Fair, where they will be recognized and receive certificates from Crouch and Indiana DoA Director Don Lamb.

“Indiana agriculture is a beautiful thing and we are blessed to be surrounded by so much of it,” Lamb said. “I look forward to seeing how that beauty is captured in this year’s contest."

Organizers say the contest is open to all Indiana residents and was created to recognize the hard work and contributions of Hoosier farmers, as well as the beauty of the state’s agricultural landscape.

Through an online entry form, photographers can enter up to five photos that will be evaluated for creativity, composition, and category representation.

Entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on June 30.