By Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District
The 6th Annual Amateur Photo Contest, hosted by the Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District (UNWNRD), was open from January 1st, 2025 to July 1st, 2025. The UNWNRD received over 200 natural resources related photos that were sorted into five different categories. The 2025 categories were adjusted slightly due to the number of photos received in each category. Very few photos were submitted in the “Recreation” category this year so the Board decided to group those photos with the “Other” category and create a “Landscape” category. “This helped to award a wider range of beautiful photos of our home here in Northwest Nebraska,” commented Dave Kadlecek, UNWNRD Director.
After UNWNRD staff spent weeks narrowing down photos to find the best candidates in each category, the UNWNRD Board of Directors selected the top photos during the last Board Meeting. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winner in each category and of those five top photos one winning photo will be made into a canvas print and displayed in the UNWNRD Office until the 2026 winners are selected.
The 2025 Winners are:
Agriculture: Lori Davis, Sheridan County – “In Good Hands” (Overall Winner)
Nature: Courtney Sherlock, Dawes County – “Bumblebee & Woolly Verbena”
Wildlife: Kate Casey, Box Butte County – “Surrounded by Blossoms”
Landscape: Luke Gazak, Dawes County – “The Rainbow Picture”
Other: Branden Martens, Dawes County – “Bronco Fire”
Jeri Anderson was the 2024 winner with her photo “Roxy the Storm Chaser” taken in Dawes County. Her photo is displayed in the UNWNRD Office until the 2025 winning photo arrives, then it will be hers to keep!
“One exciting change we noticed this year were the number of entries received from children,” noted Nancy Fisher, UNWNRD Information and Education Chairman. The Directors have decided to add a new category next year specifically to include young local photographers in the contest as well!
Thanks 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 see the UNWNRD website (www.unwnrd.org) for a slide show of some of the honorable mention photographs received over the years or stop by the office at 430 East 2nd Street to see the 2025 winning photo.
The 2026 photo contest will open January 1st, 2026!