The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) announced its third annual statewide photo contest today. KDA invites individuals to submit photos that showcase how agriculture touches their life by capturing the special moments, hard work, locally grown and breath-taking beauty of agriculture across the state.

The contest includes five separate categories, focusing on how agriculture impacts all Kansans. The categories are Farm Faces, Picture Perfect Prairie, Agriculture at Work, Farm Animals and a Youth Division. There is a place for every kind of photo. Descriptions of each category can be found on the photo contest web page.

Finalists from each category will be selected based on social media feedback through KDA’s Facebook and Pinterest accounts. Judging on KDA’s social media platforms will close Friday, June 13. Points will be allocated as listed below:

• Likes – 1 point each

• Comments – 5 points each

• Shares/Repins – 10 points each

The top five photos from each category will advance to the final round and will be reviewed by board members and selected members of the Kansas Legislature.

Photos will be judged on creativity and composition. They may be used on the department’s website, social media pages and various other marketing materials

Photos submitted should not be digitally manipulated or enhanced. Digitally manipulated or enhanced photos will be disqualified. Normal cropping, color correction, etc. are acceptable.

Winners in each category will receive $100 gift cards. Second place winners will receive $50 gift cards. Winning photos as well as select photos from the contest will be displayed throughout the new KDA building in Manhattan, Kansas. Photographers of the selected photos will be notified that their photo will be on display.

Photo entries should be sent in .jpg format to PhotoContest@kda.ks.gov. Entries must include:

• A title and brief description of each photo

• When and where the photo was taken

• Photographer’s full name and age

• Photography category

• Hometown

• Email address

Alternatively, CDs containing photo files and accompanied by all of the required information may be mailed or hand-delivered to:

Kansas Department of Agriculture
Attn.: Communications
109 SW 9th St., 4th Floor
Topeka, KS 66612

Photos must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. CDT on Friday, May 30. Winners will be announced by August 1, 2014.

In submitting photos, the photographer gives the Kansas Department of Agriculture permission to use them in any publications, social media, websites, displays and other places without payment or other consideration. Additionally, by submitting a photo that includes human subjects, the photographer is indicating they have obtained full permission from those subjects for the photograph to be used in these manners as well.

For more information about the photo contest and photo categories, please visit www.agriculture.ks.gov/photocontest.