BEDFORD—The 2025 Limestone Heritage Festival Photography Contest wrapped up over the weekend. The contest celebrated the region’s iconic limestone legacy through the lenses of local artists and photographers.
Held June 27–28 at the Lawrence County Museum, the juried contest showcased limestone-themed photography in three categories—Limestone in Nature, Limestone in Architecture, and General Limestone. Entries were divided into adult and youth divisions, with dozens of images highlighting the natural beauty, structural elegance, and cultural significance of the region’s most famous natural resource.
Kayen Kwakye received the youth division’s People’s Choice honor and a $50 award. In the youth division, Kwakye also won the blue ribbon in the Limestone Architecture category.
JoAnna Hackney was awarded the People’s Choice Award in the adult division, earning a $100 prize.
Adult winners included:
Limestone in Architecture
- Blue Ribbon: Shannon Spears
- Red Ribbon: JoAnna Hackney
- White Ribbon: Glenda Ferguson
Limestone in Nature
- Blue Ribbon: JoAnna Hackney
- Red Ribbon: Glenda Ferguson
Limestone – General
- Blue Ribbon: Oakleigh Westfall
- Red Ribbon: JoAnna Hackney
- White Ribbon: Shannon Spears
The contest was a centerpiece of the Limestone Heritage Festival, an annual celebration honoring the industry that has helped shape Lawrence County’s identity and economy. Organizers praised this year’s participants for creatively capturing the essence of limestone and its importance to the community.
The event was sponsored by the Lawrence County Museum and continues to grow as a favorite tradition within the festival.
