Capture the Heart of America Photo Contest 2021

Best of Show: $500

Submit

The mission of Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) is to preserve and share America's agricultural story. Photos submitted in the contest must be agriculturally related and help to preserve this important piece of America's story. Photos must be taken in the geographic location indicated in the category descriptions below.

Contest Categories

Iowa Farmscapes: From rustic farms to rolling hills of patchwork fields, the rural countryside holds a beauty uniquely Iowan. This category captures this beauty through artistic depictions of farm and field scenes scattered throughout rural Iowa.

Life on the Iowa Farm: Farm Life is characterized by hard work combined with a connection to the land. This category shares the story of the Iowan farmer who helps feed the world, along with day-to-day life on the farm.

Silos & Smokestacks Partner Sites: From dairy farms and museums to vineyards and tractor assembly tours, more than 100 Designated Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area Partner Sites are sharing their own part of America’s agricultural story in a 37-county region of Northeast Iowa. This category lets visitors share their experience at Heritage Area Partner Sites.

Celebrations of Iowa Agriculture: Steeped in culture, festivals and fairs have long been held to celebrate Iowan agriculture and the fruits of the harvest. From a state fair to a hometown rhubarb fest, this category commemorates the agricultural experience at countless events throughout the country.

Modern Agriculture in Iowa: Iowa’s agricultural industry has helped to shape agriculture worldwide and continues to be a leader in new and innovative farming methods. From the engineering and technology used to create more efficient machines to the biology that increases the productivity of plants and research to conserve and protect our natural resources. Show us Iowans being leaders in the industry with pictures of today’s equipment, field monitors, drones and conservation practices in operation.

Agriculture in America: From sea to shining sea, amber waves of grain to fields of cotton. Agriculture is a major industry in America. Ranging from hobby farms and small-scale producers to large commercial farms covering thousands of acres of cropland or rangeland. This category celebrates the diverse industry of agriculture in our country. We want to see this industry outside of Iowa and farm life differs from state-to-state.

Prizes:

Best of Show: $500
First Place: $100 (each category)
Second Place: $50 (each category)
Third Place: $25 (each category)
People’s Choice: $50 – First Place Only
Visitor Guide Photo Feature Award: $250 and feature in the 2021 Visitor Guide. Eligible only to photos taken at Silos & Smokestacks Partner Sites.

Eligibility:

The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers. Photos must be submitted by the individual who took the photograph.

Copyrights & Usage Rights:

Photographers retain all copyrights associated with their photograph(s). Entry in the contest constitutes agreement to allow photographs to be published, exhibited and used in all forms and/or media by SSNHA. Typical use may include features in exhibits or program promotional materials. Photos will also be exhibited through SSNHA's social media channels, with all efforts utilized to protect improper download by outside sources. When possible, photographers will be given credit during usage. Due to the nature of some programs, credit may not be given in all uses. Photos will not be sold by SSNHA to any outside source. Any requests from outside sources will be advised to contact the photographer directly.

Theme:

Other