State agriculture department launches annual photo contest

By My Courier-Tribune

The Missouri Department of Agriculture is launching the 15th annual Focus on Missouri Agriculture photo contest. The department invites Missourians to share their agriculture story through photographs now through June 7.

The Focus on Missouri Agriculture photo contest is open to Missouri photographers of all ages. Participants may enter up to three photos in each of the categories. Categories include beauty of the farm, faces of the farmer, around the barnyard, everyday life, and kids’ corner, for youth ages 12 and under. Find a full description for each category and upload entries at Agriculture.Mo.Gov/focus.

Entries will be judged on visual impact, creativity, memorable content and image quality. Prizes will go to winners from the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Missouri Grown program. The Best in Show winner, along with the firs- place winner in each category, will receive a Missouri Grown gift basket and a canvas print of their photo.

Gov. Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson will also evaluate the winning photos and select the First Family’s Choice photo.

Winners will be announced in early July and winning photos will be displayed in the Agriculture Building at the 2024 Missouri State Fair Aug. 8 through 18.

If anyone has trouble submitting photos via the online form, they can email aginfo@mda.mo.gov for assistance.