This summer, we asked you to show us what renewal looks like in your community through the Renew Rural America photo contest. It was a lofty goal, but one you reached handily. Read more about the winners (tough choices!) in each category.

You can see all the entries at the photo group the Center has set up on the photo sharing site, Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/renewrural/

Agriculture Winner

Winning agriculture photo by Nanette Day, Tilden, Nebraska.

In this category, we were looking for photos that tell the story of the renaissance happening in rural agriculture: Diversification, sustainable farming, local marketing, value-added products and the likes. The winning photo came from Nanette Day of an organic farm in Tilden, Nebraska. Day describes the farm as home to “all sorts of veggies, grapes and berries, and flowers … and this year trying to raise 12 ducks."

Community Development Winner
In the Community Development category, we asked to see what positive change looks like in your community. Winner Shirley Weeding captured that in a photo of a wind farm owned by farmers in Grant County, Minnesota. Weeding wrote: “This is just another way the small communities are striving to stay viable and also help the environment.”

Small Business Winner
In this category, we wanted to see creativity. Franklin B. Thompson captured the winning photo at “Pop’s Place” in Alma, Kansas. Thompson wrote: “What a wonderful way to recycle a deserted old gasoline station. Judging from chalk graffiti on the sidewalks surrounding Pop’s Place, the local youth approve highly.”

Youth Winner

Winning small business photo by Franklin B. Thompson. Photo of Pop's Place in Alma, Kansas.

In the youth category, for shutterbugs under the age of 18, the winning photo of a community parade came from the Superior FFA Chapter in Superior High School in Nebraska.