INDIANAPOLIS – Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture announced the winners of the 2026 Indiana Agriculture Photo Contest. This contest, in its 18th year, features photos that are a powerful testament to this hardworking community and the invaluable contributions of our Hoosier farmers.
“When I review these photos, I am reminded of the beauty of agriculture and our Hoosier state,” said Lt. Governor Beckwith, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo and shared a piece of Indiana agriculture with us, and congratulations to our 2026 Indiana Agriculture Photo Contest winners.”
The winning photos were chosen from hundreds of entries in the following four categories: Agritourism, Conservation, Faces of Agriculture and On the Farm. Two winners were selected from each category, along with two winners overall.
To be considered, the photo had to be taken in the state by an Indiana resident. The photos were evaluated by a panel of independent judges based on creativity, composition, and category representation.
“Every year this contest reminds us just how much heart goes into life on an Indiana farm, and our entries this year were no exception,” said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. “The story of Indiana agriculture is that it’s not just what feeds us – it’s a way of life that our farm families pour themselves into every single day.”
The following list includes the photo contest winners for 2026:
Agritourism Category
- “First Snowfall of the Season” by Laurie Jacobson from South Bend
- “Late Autumn at the Sugar House” by Laurie Jacobson from South Bend
Conservation Category
- “Enter Stage Right” by Forrest Willey from Seymour
- “The Iridescent Aviator” by Sara Day from Muncie
Faces of Agriculture Category
- “A Farmer’s Best Friend” by Linsie Middlesworth from Marion
- “Rolling into FFA Week” by Linsie Middlesworth from Marion
On the Farm Category
- “Round Barn Aurora” by Tom Jones from Star City
- “Connie the Cow” by Sarah McClanahan from South Whitley
Overall Category
- “Preparing a Field” by Brea Persing from South Bend
- “Bartholomew Co. Barn in Fall” by Craig Dearing from Columbus
To view the winning photos, click here or visit isda.in.gov.
To view photos of the photographers from the award presentation, click here.
The winning photographs will be displayed in the lieutenant governor’s Family of Business offices in Indianapolis throughout the next year.
