Photography Contest
For 4-H and FFA Members
In 2026, the District started a BMP Photography Contest in conjunction with the Garrett County Agricultural Fair.
Entrants must be a current 4-H or FFA member. Entry and judging are held during the Garrett County Agricultural Fair along with other 4-H and fair entries.
Winners receive cash prizes: $100 for 1st place, $75 for 2nd place, and $50 for 3rd place.
Entry Rules
- Photographer must be a current 4-H or FFA member.
- Subject of the photograph must be an Agricultural Best Management Practice. You can learn about BMP’s right here on this website.
- Photographer must describe what BMP the photo is capturing and why this is important below the photo or on an index card taped to the back. Be aware that the card may be displayed next to the photo, so make it neat.
- Photos need to be mounted on 11″x14″, white posterboard.
- The photo itself needs to be at least 7″x9″ or larger. It can be portrait or landscape.
- Photographer’s name, contact information, and the name of the farm where the photo was taken must be included on the back.
- All photos will be judged together regardless of subject or whether they are color or black and white.
- Make sure you have the permission of the farm owner where the photo is taken because your entry gives us permission to use the photo for a variety of outreach endeavors.
- You can make slight adjustments to lighting, cropping, contrast, and color but photos made with AI will be disqualified.
- One entry per person.
Judging Based On...
- Aesthetic beauty of the photograph
- Whether there is a Best Management Practice as the main subject of the photo
- How well the photographer describes the BMP which is in the photograph – what it is and why it is important
- Photo quality – in focus, subject well framed, good lighting, etc.
2026 – 1st Place Winner – Audrey Hawkins – Custer Farm
“This photograph features Custer Farms in Swanton, Maryland. In the foreground of the picture there are grasses of the riparian buffer that protect a nearby spring. Looking at the barn structure from this angle near the road, it may be difficult to see the well- camouflaged conservation practices. The building on the very right is the main barn. In the middle of the structure is a roof and cover over a cement pad that protects a high-traffic area. The building on the left is a manure storage shed. The well-designed practices are both attractive and practical to protect the farm and conserve the soil and water around the farm.” – Audrey Hawkins
Photo taken by Audrey Hawkins, $100 prize winner.
Why We Started a Photography Contest
An example of one of the really fantastic booths that were entered through the years! This one was created by North Glade 4-H Club.
Participation Had Dropped Off the Booth Display Contest
In previous years, the District offered financial awards to the top three 4-H clubs submitting a display about agricultural conservation, called a “booth”. In recent years, however, participation in the contest has dropped off.
Originally, it was intended that construction of the displays by club members would give clubs a chance to study BMP’s in order to create a good design. But although that was happening significantly in some clubs, only a few clubs participated.
We’ve have had some excellent display entries through the years. And we are very proud of those clubs for putting in so much effort. Some of the displays were very carefully thought out and took quite a lot of time to build. To those clubs, we applaud you and loved seeing your creations!!!
Competition has been between the same three 4-H clubs the last several years, and generally there are only two entries each year even though we have offered three cash prizes. Therefore, we feel there isn’t a whole lot of interest in the contest among the clubs as a whole. When we asked clubs about it, they cited difficulty in getting members together to do the display and costs associated with a good display.
Giving Individual Youth a Chance to Learn BMP's
So, we decided to go another route. Our goal with the contests has always been to help youth understand about Agricultural Best Management Practices.
In order to participate in the photo contest and be successful, an entrant would need to study about Agricultural BMP’s, all of which can be found on this website. Hint: Look under “Agriculture” and “Best Management Practices.”
True Story – One entrant submitted a gorgeous photo, but didn’t research BMP’s. Instead the entrant tried to guess at what a good practice might be. Well, he/she guessed wrong! There was a great BMP in the photo but the entrant didn’t know it, so the photo didn’t place. This particular photo stood a good chance of being a top prize winner had the photographer studied about BMP’s.
Photography is Popular
In this generation, photography is popular. It’s a personally rewarding experience because each photo that someone takes has a specific connection to that person.
We felt that connect would enhance the learning experience of each individual who chooses to participate because they will have a sense of “ownership” in the concept to be photographed.
Photography doesn’t require syncing schedules of a group, and it is relatively inexpensive these days.
2026 – 2nd Place Winner – Wyatt Funkhauser – Funkhauser Farm
High Tunnel at the Funkhauser Farm. Photo by Wyatt Funkhauser, $75 prize winner.
2026 – 3rd Place Winner – Bowden Warnick – Deer Haven Farms
Contour Strips at the Kenny Green Farm. Photo by Bowden Warnick, $50 prize winner.
Disability Friendly
We encourage those in 4H or FFA with disabilities to enter as well, regardless of the disability.
Assistive devices for the blind are acceptable as long as the entrant actually snaps the photo.
Photography Suggestions
- Magic Hour – Take your photo during the magic hour, which is early in the morning or right before sunset.
- Use Rule of Thirds when it fits the subject. Look this up for a better example. But basically it means the subject should be located in a photo third, not in the center.
- Rather than using flash, lighten your photo in a program. This will reduce hard shadows. Lighting, cropping, and adjusting contrast and color shades in a program are acceptable but more intense changes are not allowed.
- Try Telling a Story – Have you ever seen a photograph that tells a story? This may be hard to do with a BMP as the subject, but if you are up for a challenge…Telling a story is not a requirement.
- Avoid Cluttering Your Subject – Pick your subject and make it the main focus. Don’t leave people guessing about what part of the image you meant for the viewer to see.
2026 Honorable Mention – Avery Marpel – Deer Haven Farms
“We are mowing a cover crop (Triticale) to prep the field for planting corn.” – Avery Marpel.
Photo taken by Avery Marpel at Deer Haven Farms, Honorable Mention.