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MIFFS Announces Food and Farming Photo Contest Winners

October 19 , 2009 - MIFFS is proud to announce the winners of the MIFFS Food & Farming Photo Contest, which was held this summer. We were looking for photos that embody our vibrant local food systems and focus on the rich diversity and heritage of Michigan agriculture and family farmers, and boy, did we get some amazing photos!

The winners for the contest were:

• Dace Koenigsknecht of Lansing, whose “Rusty Seeding Planter” photo was a great interpretation of our core strategy, "Assisting Family Farmers." We loved the lines, the history, and the sense of bringing generations together, building one after another, in this photo. It reminded us truly of family farms and the rich sense of heritage they build. If only we could hear the stories swapped on those seats!
• Vanessa Fox Gruenwald of Suttons Bay won the “Growing Market Opportunities” award with her “Cukes, Beets and Berries” photo. The diversity of product, great color, fun and innovative display at the Suttons Bay Farmers Market really captured us and spoke to this important part of our work in helping farmers tap into new markets and succeed.
• Catherine Fox of Newaygo’s “Magicland Farm’s Beans and Sweet Corn” photo took the spot for “Supporting Ag Stewardship and Sustainable Production”. The different crops working together (beans and sweet corn here are only a few of the crop photos that Catherine submitted of her family’s farm), rich soil and rolling hills, all surrounded by clean blue sky felt wholesome and honest, the way that agriculture is supposed to be.

Dace, Vanessa and Catherine will be receiving a free one-year membership to MIFFS! Their photos will be featured in the newly redesigned MIFFS Brochure and in other media, including newsletters, flyers, posters, the MIFFS display and on the MIFFS website.

We’d like to thank everyone who submitted their photos for the 2009 MIFFS Food & Farming Photo Contest! We appreciate your input, time and talents, and we were truly amazed at the more than 40 beautiful, diverse and innovative photos that we received in this contest. We are so grateful that so many talented individuals were willing to share their gifts with us and can’t wait to put these great photos to work, telling the story of Michigan agriculture and local food systems.