The winners of the 2023 Cream of the Crop Photo Contest have been announced by Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs.
The contest provides an opportunity for young photographers to share their vision of agriculture in our state. Students who won first, second or third place in each age category will be awarded Bright Start scholarships.
A cake reception will be held at 11 a.m. on Aug. 11 at the Treasurer’s Tent on Brian Raney Avenue on the fairgrounds, which will be open to the public. Winning photos will be displayed during the fair and will be featured in the 2023-2024 Ag Invest calendar.
First-place winners in each age category received $ 1,000 scholarships, second-place winners received $500, and third-place winners received $250. Bright Start is the Illinois direct-sold 529 program that provides families with a tax-advantaged investment vehicle to help save for future education expenses at a university or college, community college, trade school, or apprenticeship. More information can be found at ILCollegeSavings.com.
A link to the winning photos can be found below – as can the bracket winners.
8-10 Age Bracket Winners
First Place: Bennett Schumacher, At Sunset, Jacksonville, IL (Morgan County)
Second Place: Bennett Schumacher, Working Hard, Jacksonville, IL (Morgan County)
Third Place: Leah Johnson, Rose Lettuce, Pleasant Plains, IL (Sangamon County)
11-14 Age Bracket Winners
First Place: Carolyn Lee, American Cattle, Wellington, IL (Iroquois County)
Second Place: Anna Parr, Moo, Mason City, IL (Mason County)
Third Place: Anna Parr, Mama and Her Babies, Mason City, IL (Mason County)
15-18 Age Bracket Winners
First Place: Macy McLaughlin, Evening Elegance, Mason City, IL (Mason County)
Second Place: Alec Shields, Beneath the Bluffs, Carbondale, IL (Jackson County)
Second Place: Sophie Robinson, Crop Sprayer, Taylorville, IL (Christian County)
Third Place: Hallie Smith, Mary the Little Lamb, Taylorville, IL (Christian County)
