Rural health education office’s annual photography contest open for submissions Aug. 22-Sept. 30
Finalists will be featured in the Beauty in Kansas wall calendar, and the grand prize winner’s photograph will appear on the cover of Kansas Country Living magazine.
Now in its 19th year, the annual Rural Kansas Photography Contest is open for submissions beginning Thursday, August 22. Sponsored by Rural Health Education and Services at the University of Kansas Medical Center, the contest challenges participants to create and submit original photographs that show off the beauty in rural areas throughout the state.
Amateur and professional photographers at least 18 years of age who live or work in Kansas will compete for the $100 grand prize, as well as second-place awards.
Contestants may submit up to two photographs per category:
- Nature and Landscapes: Living plants, animals and the Kansas landscape.
- Health care in Kansas: What does a healthy Kansas look like?
- Unique Perspective: New insights using artful angles, a bird's-eye view, macro or panoramic photography and so forth.
- Winter Wonderland: Winter scenes in the state.
- Colorful Kansas: Show off vivid images.
- Youth Division (ages 13-17): Submit up to three photographs in any of the categories.
Complete contest and submission rules can be found on the contest page.
Entries also will be compiled to create the 2025 Beauty in Kansas wall calendar, which is available for sale to the public. As part of the Sweet Home Kansas campaign, a complimentary version will be sent to KU School of Medicine graduates who are completing out-of-state residencies and plan to move back.
with “Monarch Dream,” taken in Allen County.
In 2023, there were 988 photographs entered by 182 photographers. “Each year, the contest gets better and better,” said Jenifer Yuza, marketing and resource manager of Rural Health Education and Services at KU Medical Center. “We love seeing new photographers enter the contest and are always so honored when we see some familiar names entering year after year, too.”
Employees at KU Medical Center will judge the entries, narrowing the field down to six finalists in each category. Finalists will be announced on October 23, 2024. On National Rural Health Day (Nov. 21), individuals who live or work in Kansas may vote electronically. If you’d like to vote electronically, subscribe to the photo contest mailing list for a link to vote, as well as announcements about the contest and related materials.
Editors at Kansas Country Living magazine will select the grand prize photo, which will be featured on the cover of the January 2025 issue. Winners will be announced Tuesday, December 3, 2024.