By Upper Niobrara White NRD
The Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District (UNWNRD) held the 5th Annual Amateur Photo Contest, in search of natural resources related photos from residents of the District encompassing Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan and Sioux counties. After a slow start, the photos started rolling in when the contest deadline was extended from June 1st to July 19th. The UNWNRD received over 250 photos this year, submitted in 5 different categories: Agriculture, Wildlife, Nature, Recreation, and Other.
After UNWNRD staff spent weeks narrowing down photos to find the best candidates in each category, the UNWNRD Board of Directors selected the best of the best during their Thursday Board Meeting. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winner in each category and of those 5 top photos one winning photo will be made into a canvas print and displayed in the UNWNRD Office until the 2025 winners are selected.
The 2024 Winners are:
Agriculture: Jeri Anderson, Dawes County – “Roxy the Storm Chaser” (Overall Winner)
Nature: Vicky Yant, Sioux County – “Northern Lights from Yant Hill”
Wildlife: April Casey, Box Butte County – “Greeting the Day”
Recreation: Mike Wellnitz, Sheridan County – “Under the Lights”
Other: Kirk Budd, Sheridan County – “Bridge on the Niobrara”
Audra Johnston was the 2023 winner with her photo “A Spring Storm” Taken in Sheridan County. Her photo is displayed in the UNWNRD Office until the 2024 winning photo arrives, then it will be hers to keep!
“We look forward to seeing all of the beautiful photos each year,” commented Mike Strasburger, UNWNRD Director, “and while separating the photos into categories definitely helped to award a greater variety of photos, it did not make the decisions any easier.” The Board of Directors has discussed putting together a calendar to help showcase some of the other amazing photos we haven’t been able to award over the last 5 years.
Thank you to all who submitted photos this year! The UNWNRD is eager to see many more amazing photos of Northwest Nebraska in years to come. Please look for more information on the NRD website www.unwnrd.org or stop by the office at 430 East 2nd Street to see the 2024 winning photo.