GIRARD, Kan. — The annual Crawford County Fair photography contest, a collaborative effort between residents and the Girard School District, has launched. The contest is open to local photographers who compete with their best images of the county area.
The event launched two years ago as a new competition offered at the annual Crawford County Fair, which opens on July 29 at the fairgrounds just east of Girard.
The event is sponsored by Harrigans’ Barn and is organized by Rachelle Mengarelli with assistance from students in the accreditation/promotion class at Girard High School. Submissions will be accepted until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29.
In the event’s first two years, the contest focused on capturing buildings, structures, and landscapes associated with the Works Progress Administration, which helped build and create many of the buildings seen at the fairgrounds, as well as Crawford State Park and Farlington Lake.
This year, however, the theme is “community spirit.” Competitors are asked to capture “what is great about Crawford County and the communities that make it great.”
Judges in years past have included a representative from The Morning Sun and Hometown Girard, who assess the photo’s composition, storytelling, emotion, lighting, color, and perspective. Last year’s top placers were Harper Davis, Ryan Waggoner, Nancy Scott, Rocky Restivo, Allison Huber, Caleb Humble, Camden Humble, and Erin Huber.
The official competition and judging are scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 30, in the Open Class Building.
Those who place first and second are to be awarded in the competition, including $50 for first place and $40 for second place in the youth and advanced youth competition as well as $100 for first and $50 for second in the adult and professional competition, donated by Harrigans’ Barn.
All photos must be exhibited as an 8x10 image and mounted. Photos are released on Sunday, Aug. 2.
For more information, email organizer Rachelle Mengarelli at rachellem@ckt.net or call 620-240-0689.
This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.
