News Release

A dramatic image of an 86-year-old farmer leaving a weathered and worn barn to tend to his cattle was selected as the Best of Show in the 2010 Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest, sponsored by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The photograph, submitted by Connie Smiley of Theodosia, was chosen out of nearly 500 photos submitted by more than 110 amateur photographers from all regions of Missouri. A gallery of the winning photos can be found at Flickr.com/MoAgriculture. 

"The overall winning photograph perfectly captures the very essence of farming," said Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler. "This iconic image says a lot about all the years this farmer has performed the same morning chores. It sums up the farmer's life. It is exactly what we were hoping to see when we announced this contest."

Photographers submitted photos into four main categories, which included The Beauty of the Farm, The Farmer's Life, The Face of the Farm and The Pride of the Farm. A fifth category, called The Children's Barnyard was exclusively for photographers age 12 and under. In total, 24 winners were selected by a panel of expert judges consisting of Missouri Department of Natural Resources Public Information Coordinator Scott Myers, Missouri Department of Conservation Art Director Cliff White and Missouri Department of Agriculture's AgriMissouri Member Services Coordinator Sarah Gehring.

The winning photos are on display in the Agriculture Building at the Missouri State Fair until Aug. 22. A complete list of winners are below:

BEST OF SHOW:
"Chores" by Connie Smiley, Theodosia, MO

THE BEAUTY OF THE FARM:
First Place: "Turbines and Tractors at Sunrise" by Kandie Lager, Clyde, MO
Runner Up: "Summer Veggies" by Aimee Gutshall, Columbia, MO
Honorable Mention: "Red Barn" by Larry Braun, Benton, MO
Honorable Mention: "Danny in the Snow" by Jessica Zander, Ste. Genevieve, MO
Honorable Mention: "Old and New: Agriculture in Atchison County" by Amie Schleicher, Rock Port, MO

FACES OF THE FARM:
First Place: "Just Head South on M" by Susan MacEachern, Altamont, MO
Runner Up: "Hayride" by Crystal Narr, Wheeling, MO
Honorable Mention: "Mama's Cowboy" by Brenda Linder, Green Castle, MO
Honorable Mention: "Picking Green Beans" by Courtney Steen, Eldon, MO
Honorable Mention: "Parker's Patch" by Chris Mattson, Conception Junction, MO

THE FARMER'S LIFE:
First Place: "Pull!" by Julie Turner-Crawford, Phillipsburg, MO
Runner Up: "Yesteryear's Rake" by Glenn Kage, Jr., Sullivan, MO
Honorable Mention: "Generations of Farmers" by Carol A. Gamm Smith, Holts Summit, MO
Honorable Mention: "Farm Fun" by Paige Allen, Kansas City, MO
Honorable Mention: "ATV in Snow" by Cecila Crawford, Farmington, MO

THE PRIDE OF THE FARM:
First Place: "Big Mack and Barn" by LeAnn Bullard, Ashland, MO
Runner Up: "Harvest Time" by Cheryl Schneider, Hermann, MO
Honorable Mention: "Biodiesel" by Larry Braun, Benton, MO
Honorable Mention: "In Times of Drought" by Brenda Linder, Green Castle, MO

CHILDREN'S BARNYARD:
First Place: "Bluestem, Blooms and Barn" by Bethany Adams, Rogersville, MO
Runner Up: "A Bug's-Eye View" by Griff Kesler, Kearney, MO
Honorable Mention: "Lichen Grasshopper" by Simeon Hart Yemm, Marquand, MO
Honorable Mention: "Hay Bales" by Logan Bennett, Norwood, MO