SPRINGFIELD — Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced the winners of the 2019 Cream of the Crop Photo Contest. The annual contest encourages young photographers to share their vision of agriculture in our state.
“Each year, this photography contest highlights the beauty of Illinois agriculture and the talent of children throughout this state,” Frerichs said. “Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest. It was fun to get a glimpse of local farms, animals, and the beautiful landscape of the place we call home.” The winning entries will be featured in the Treasurer’s tent on the north side of Brian Raney Avenue during the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. The fair kicks off on August 8 with the Twilight Parade and ends on August 18.
Winning photo entries can be viewed here. Winning photos and other submissions will be used in the 2019-2020 Ag Invest calendar and Ag Invest marketing materials for the agriculture industry.
Ag Invest is one of the nation’s largest agricultural linked deposit programs. It helps hundreds of Illinois farmers and agriculture professionals. The Treasurer’s Office, through Ag Invest, partners with eligible financial lenders to offer farmers annual and long-term, low-interest loans which can be used for operating costs, equipment purchases, construction-related expenses, and livestock purchases.
There were three age-based categories in this year’s photo contest: ages 8-10, 11-14, and 15-18.
Each student was allowed to submit up to two photos electronically by June 26. Photo judges were FFA Executive Director Mindy Bunselmeyer, Gary Mueller of Havana National Bank, and Rick Schramm of Illinois National Bank.
8-10 Age Bracket Winners:
First Place: A Day’s Work, Payton Luebchow of Paxton, IL Second Place: Peaches, Peaches, Caleb Price of Auburn, IL Third Place: Day’s End, Mia Tope of Campbell Hill, IL 11-14 Age Bracket Winners:
First Place: Year 2019, Austin Kammeyer of Manito, IL Second Place: A Harvest Sunset, Drew Mickey of Taylorville, IL Third Place: Nothing Runs Like a Deere, Drew Mickey of Taylorville, IL 15-18 Age Bracket Winners:
First Place: Sunset Harvest, Tanner Mickey of Taylorville, IL Second Place: Winter Wonderland, Renee Gehrke of Byron, IL Third Place: Triple Trouble, Alex Johannes of Ashley, IL