The fifth Agri-heritage Photo Contest will focus on the theme “Pea-ter Pumpkin Eater,” with a pumpkin of any size included in the photo.
“We’ve had some exceptional photos entered since the contest began in 2012, with several first-time entrants submitting unusually creative photos last year,” said Nancy Neal, vice president for communications, Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, and coordinator of the contest. “As a result, we are continuing to ask amateur photographers who enter the contest to capture images reflecting the theme for this year’s contest. The cowpeas will be reflected in a spinoff of the ‘Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater’ nursery rhyme.”
Ms. Neal continued, “The purpose of the contest is to continue to create a greater appreciation of our agri-heritage in the Ocoee Region. We especially want to focus on the authentic agricultural heritage found in Charleston, once known as the cowpea capital of the United States because of the volume of peas grown in the area and shipped to faraway markets.”
In years past, the contest included several defined divisions. Contestants are now limited to two submissions but may still use as subjects anything related to agri-tourism—farm work, crops grown in the region, rural landscapes like old barns and farm buildings—but must include a pumpkin in the image.
The contest officially will begin July 1 and end on Aug. 12. Sponsors for the 2016 contest are Homestead Lawn & Tractor Co. and CPQ Professional Imaging Inc.
“We are especially excited to have both Homestead and CPQ sponsoring the photo contest again,” Ms. Neal said. “They make it possible for us to award monetary prizes as well as a professional print of the winning photographs to the top three entrants in the adult and children’s divisions. We also display a copy of the winning photos at the Hiwassee River Heritage Center in Charleston.”
Competition is open to any amateur photographer—one who does not regularly receive income from photography—who lives in the Ocoee Region of Tennessee; that is, Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Polk and Hamilton counties. Young photographers are encouraged to enter the Budding Artists division for those ages 13 and younger. International Cowpea Festival and Cook-off organizers and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.
“Entrants may submit their own original photographs in digital format online, with no more than two photos per entrant,” Neal noted, adding that no cellphone photos will be accepted.
Entries that do not fit the criteria for the contest will not be part of the adjudication process.
Photography/communications experts will judge the photos shortly after the contest closes, with winners announced at the International Cowpea Festival and Cook-off on Sept. 10 in Charleston. First-, second- and third-place photos in the adult division, along with three Budding Artist winners, will be displayed at the festival and may be used for future projects.
For more information, please call Melissa Woody at 423-472-6587 or Darlene Goins at 423-413-8284.