Categories

Photographs may be entered in the following categories:

1) Conservation Practices (examples):

Contour Buffer Strips Contour Farming & Stripcropping Cover Crop Critical Area Planting Crop Residue Management Crop Rotation Diversion Field Borders Grade Stabilization Structures (dam/embankment) Grass Waterways Livestock Management Manure Storage and Runoff Control Nutrient Management	Pasture Planting Pest Management Riparian Buffer Rotational Grazing Stream bank & Shoreline Stabilization Terrace Tree Planting Upland Wildlife Habitat Water & Sediment Control Basin Well Abandonment Wetland Restoration Wildlife Food Plot Windbreaks Woodlot Management
2) Close Up Conservation (examples):
Aquatic insects Clean water Crops and plants and water/rain Dirty water/sediment Farm implements Hands/tools in soil, water, grains, on farm animals	Irrigation Plants and soil/residue Plants/flowers/crops Prairie plants Recycling Water drops/drips/splashes Worms/roots/compost
3) Conservation in Action (examples):
Conservation Planning District events (community meetings, field days, fairs, exhibits) Farmers/landowners (conservation-related events, etc.) Interaction with landowners Irrigation/crops and water/wildflowers and water	Office staff at work Supervisors/Board (meetings, activities, interaction) Technical staff at work Wildlife, insects, livestock, aquatic life, etc. Youth (school programs, speech, poster contests, Envirothon, on farm, conservation-related events, etc.)
4) Ag/Conservation Across America (examples):
Barns Crops Farm Practices Farmers/landowners Fence rows Grazing Implements and tools	Livestock Pasture Ponds Ranching Tree Farm Youth

Guidelines

• 1. The contest is open to amateur photographers (those who make less than 50 percent of their income from photography) who are residents of the United States, or its territories. Each participant may enter up to, but no more than, five photographs.
  Photos will not be returned.
• 2. Black-and-white prints, color prints, and prints from digital photos are all acceptable and will be judged together. Do not send photo reproductions from a printed publication.
• 3. Photos submitted to the WVACD contest must be an 8X10. Photos shall not be matted.
• 4. Images must not have been digitally altered in any way other than necessary burning, dodging and cropping.
• 5. A completed entry form must accompany each photograph submitted.
• 6. A 3x5 notecard containing the following information must be attached to the back of each photo. Please include:
  • A. Photographer's name and phone number.
  • B. Title of photograph. Please use same title as on entry form.
  • C. Subject. Names and titles are needed for each person in the photo. (Take care to identify each person and spell names correctly.)
  • D. Location. If the photograph is of a district technician helping a farmer, identify the farm, county and state. If the photo shows a city park, mention the name of the park and the state.
  • E. Description. Is the child with the magnifying glass examining a crack in the sidewalk or a line of ants carrying food?
  • F. Date of photo. Exact dates are not necessary, but at least give the year.
• 7. Photos submitted must be taken in West Virginia.
• 8. All entries become the property of WVACD, and WVACD reserves the non-exclusive right to use all photographs in publications or for promotional purposes. Entrants should keep negatives or extra prints of their photographs.
• 9. Judges will select a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner in each category in the adult (18 years or older on July 1) and youth category. Winning photos will receive a cash prize, which will be awarded by WVACD. The state contest winners' photos will also be sent to be judged in the National Association of Conservation District's photo contest.
• 10. All entries in the WVACD Photo Contest must be submitted by the local Conservation District office to the WVACD by the first day of the July Quarterly Meetings. Check with your local conservation district office for their contest deadline.

Placing a piece of cardboard in the envelope and writing "Photographs: Do Not Bend" on the envelope will help ensure that photographs arrive in good condition.

Judging Standards

Photos will be judged on technical merit and composition. For technical merit, judges may check to see if the photo is well-framed, properly exposed and sharp and clear. For composition, judges determine if the photo features a recognizable center of interest, action and imagination and creativity.