By Maggie Edwards 

A picture is worth a thousand words, but to participants in the 2022 Farming Feeds Alabama Photo Contest, a picture represents their livelihood. From peach orchards to poultry houses and cattle to cotton, the biannual photo contest — whose winning entries hailed from St. Clair and Bibb counties — helps tell the story of Alabama agriculture. 

“Alabama agriculture is a treasure, and we love giving others the opportunity to capture the beauty of the industry that feeds, fuels and clothes the world,” said Marlee Moore, the Alabama Farmers Federation’s publications director. “We hope this contest encourages people to continue to notice farm life all around them.“

The contest, which was sponsored by the Federation and ran through late 2022, was divided into two categories. The youth division was for photographers 15 years of age and younger, while the adult division included 16-year-old entrants and up. 

First-place winners received $150; second place received $100; and third place $50. Almost 200 photos were judged by a panel of professionals, resulting in winners from counties across the state. 

Youth Division

1st place: My Brother And Pawpaw by Silas Brown, St. Clair County | This photo features a little boy feeding and watering cows with his pawpaw at Grace Farms.

2nd place: Perfect Cotton Boll by Anne Elizabeth Pitts, Hale County | This picture captures a cotton boll before harvest.

3rd place: Pink by Ellie Blankenship, Shelby County | This showcases a sweet cow with a pink nose looking through a fence. 

Adult Division

1st place: Peach Delight by Beverly Jones, Bibb County | This captures Jeremiah Jones excitedly showing his sister, Jessa, a tiny peach in the family orchard.

2nd place: Leading The Future by Tanner Strickland, Barbour County | This shot embodies Psalm 79:13, “Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation.” 

3rd place: Summer Pastures by Gracie Tribble, Lauderdale County | Two of Alabama’s biggest commodities are cattle and poultry; this photo embodies both perfectly. This farm family runs a commercial cow/calf operation along with four broiler houses, and during the summer, they keep bulls in the pastures that surround the poultry houses.