20 Years of rural Kansas images

In rural Kansas, magnificence typically hides in plain sight. For 20 years, the Rural Kansas Photography Contest has supplied a window into the guts of life throughout the state.

Sponsored by Rural Health Education and Services on the University of Kansas Medical Center, the competition continues to draw small city shutterbugs, similar to Ashley Walker of Kinsley, who has participated on and off for about 10 years. It’s a practice she shares together with her household.

“Rural photography is my favorite,” mentioned Walker. “I love capturing the beauty of the rural area around me, where my family harvests, and the lifestyle we live every day.”

Both newbie {and professional} photographers take part within the contest, which has grown through the years to incorporate youthful contributors. In 2022, organizers launched a Teen Division for

photographers ages 13 to 17. What started as a pilot has since turn out to be a everlasting class, because of an enthusiastic response from younger Kansans, together with Walker’s eldest daughter, who now enters annually.

Sparking creativity, group pleasure and new views of Kansas

“The teen category really showed us how many young people are excited to express their creativity and tell rural stories in their own way,” mentioned Jenifer Yuza, advertising supervisor for Rural Health. “What’s so special about this contest is how many people participate simply for the joy of it. It’s become a meaningful way for folks to celebrate where they’re from, and the images are truly inspiring.”

While the competition is rooted in inventive expression, it additionally serves a broader function. One of Rural Health’s core missions is to recruit well being care suppliers to rural and underserved communities throughout the state, and the photograph contest serves to showcase the sweetness and surprise of our state to potential placements. More than that, people around the globe benefit from the annual trove of breathtaking photographs posted on-line.

“In my experience,” mentioned Sarah Esposito of Lincoln, “I haven’t seen a sunset anywhere as good as a Kansas sunset.”

Sharing by the lens of rural well being, farming Kylie Stamper of Winfield, a well being care advertising skilled, makes use of her digicam to inform genuine tales — providing a glimpse into the realities of rural well being care by the eyes of sufferers, suppliers and the group. Outside of her work, she turns her lens to Kansas landscapes, capturing vivid sunsets and climate scenes.

“I participate in the photo contest because I feel it’s important to celebrate these stories, and I appreciate that this contest offers an opportunity to showcase these moments on a broader stage,” Stamper mentioned.

Kevin Kirkwood of Leavenworth County finds the on a regular basis fantastic thing about his days.

“As a farmer,” Kirkwood mentioned, “I see every sunrise and every sunset. I love what I do as a farmer, and this is a way of sharing it.”

Voting, classes, and what’s new this yr

Esposito, an everyday participant, mentioned the competition stays her favourite due to its on-line public voting and rotating class themes. Voting happens on National Rural Health Day, Nov. 20.

To commemorate its twentieth anniversary, the competition has added a brand new particular class for 2025 titled “What Rural Means to Me.” The full listing of classes for this yr consists of:

• twentieth Anniversary Special Category: What Rural Means to Me
• Sky’s the Limit
• Health Care in Kansas
• Seasons of Kansas
• Wildlife and Critters
• Youth Division

Entries can be accepted from Aug. 21 by Sept. 30, 2025. First-place winners in every class will obtain $100, with $50 awarded for second place.

Recognition and attain past the competition

A Grand Prize winner can be featured on the quilt of Kansas Country Living journal’s January ty in Kansas wall calendar, which retails for $15. All calendar proceeds go on to assist the competition.

With greater than 250 photographers contributing yearly and a group now exceeding 10,000 photographs, the Rural Kansas Photography Contest continues to develop, capturing not solely gorgeous landscapes but additionally the enduring spirit of Kansas communities.

See profitable images by the years and be taught extra concerning the Rural Kansas Photography Contest.