by Ashley Mike
Annually, Union County 4-H hosts a Countywide Photography Contest for students grades 4-12.
This year a dozen students participated in the contest, entering nearly 50 photos. In the contest there are seven categories including: Animals, Nature, Portraits, Light & Shadow, Health, 4-H, and a themed category that changes each year to spice up the contest, this year being “Growing up in a Pandemic.”
Photos are judged on their overall relation to 4-H overall as well as quality, lighting, creativity, focus, uniqueness, and story.
First thru third place winners are named in each age group for each category and a Top Ten are chosen from the 6th-12th grade entries to be entered into the Tennessee 4-H State Photo Search Contest representing Union County.
Additionally, a Top Three People’s Choice are awarded to the most liked photos on the Virtual Photo Show on the UT Extension Union County Facebook Page.
These students are talented and have an eye for creativity. Congratulations to each of them.
Winners are: 4th – 5th grade: Animals – 1st Grayson Schreieck, 2nd Hannah Williams, 3rd Jennagrace Malone; Nature – 1st Jennagrace Malone, 2nd Hannah Williams, 3rd Jennagrace Malone; Portraits – 1st Anna Chamberlain, 2nd Zeeva Boucher; Light & Shadow – 1st Silas Whitley, 2nd Hannah Williams, 3rd Grayson Schreieck, 4-H – 1st Grayson Schreieck, 2nd Zeeva Boucher
6th – 8th grade: Animals – 1st Meradeth Whitley, 4-H – 1st Meradeth Whitley, Growing up in a Pandemic – 1st Emmagayle Malone
9th – 12th grade: Animals 1st Travis Hanna, 2nd Elijah Helton, 3rd Kaleb Hanna; Nature – 1st Samuel Helton, 2nd Travis Hanna, 3rd Elijah Helton; Portraits – 1st Kaleb Hanna, 2nd Samuel Hensley, 3rd Elijah Helton; Light & Shadow – 1st Travis Hanna, 2nd Kaleb Hanna, 3rd Elijah Helton; 4-H – 1st Travis Hanna, 2nd Kaleb Hanna, 3rd Samuel Helton
Top Ten in Tennessee 4-H State Photo Search (in no particular order): Elijah Helton #141, Kaleb Hanna #143, Meradeth Whitley #126 & #127, Samuel Helton #139 & #144, Travis Hanna #129, #132, #135, & #140.
Top Three People’s Choice Photos with the most likes on Facebook: Hannah Williams with #103 in 1st place, #109 in 2nd, and #115 in 3rd. Way to go Hannah, good work getting your family and friends involved on the Facebook page!
For questions about the 4-H Club in Union County, contact us at 865-992-8038 or Ashley.Mike@utk.edu.