Homegrown: State photo contest

An Eastern Iowan won this statewide contest last fall. Let's see if another will win this spring!

Regardless of whether or not you enter the contest, below, feel free to post your own photos of flowers, garden projects and other spring happenings - just for fun - on the Homegrown Facebook page here.

This has information about the photo contest from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship:

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is kicking off a “Spring Facebook Fun Photo Contest.”  Iowans are invited to submit photos that showcase the beauty of spring in Iowa through the department's Facebook page, which can be accessed through the department's website at www.iowaagriculture.gov.

“Spring is a great time in Iowa and presents tremendous opportunities to enjoy nature and take pictures,” Northey said.  “Iowans did such a great job capturing the beautiful harvest season last fall and I can't wait to see the photos that are posted of spring.  Like last fall, this contest is open to everyone regardless of age or photography experience, I expect we will see a number of breathtaking photos.”

The contest starts immediately and will run through May 31st.  The photos will be judged on the number of “likes” each photo receives and the winner will receive an award certificate from Secretary Northey, naming them the first spring winner of what the Department hopes to be an annual event.

Last fall, Sharon Roberts, from Marengo was the winner of the department's first “Facebook Fall Fun Photo Contest.”  Robert's photo, which shows her son and grandson “Taking a little break”, earned 119 “Likes” you can see Robert's and all photos on the department's Facebook page.

Northey, a corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, is serving his second term as Secretary of Agriculture. His priorities as Secretary of Agriculture are promoting the use of science and new technologies to better care for our air, soil and water, and reaching out to tell the story of Iowa agriculture.