January 27, 2017
CapitalPress.com
11
Photo contest entries capture farm life
By MATTHEW WEAVER
Capital Press
Matthew Weaver/Capital Press file
Greater Spokane Incorporated CEO Todd Mielke and
AgriBusiness Council chairman Jay Allert talk about their
organization’s priorities for agriculture.
AgriBusiness Council
continues to evolve
By MATTHEW WEAVER
Capital Press
Greater Spokane Incorporated is coming off a
“transformational” year and will continue to evolve
as it speaks for regional agriculture, the leader of the
organization’s AgriBusiness Council says.
Council chairman Jay Allert welcomed the arriv-
al of Todd Mielke, GSI’s chief executive officer, who
will help advocate for agriculture in Olympia and
Washington, D.C.
“That’s very encouraging, rewarding and good for
the industry,” Allert said.
The AgriBusiness Council falls under the GSI um-
brella. Mielke joined GSI in February 2016.
Mielke told the Capital Press that GSI’s priorities
included helping local businesses find applicants for
jobs; keeping the public aware of agriculture’s inno-
vations, challenges and opportunities; and addressing
increased local regulations.
“We’re dealing with commodities that have world-
wide competition, and the slightest amount of regula-
tion that puts them at a competitive disadvantage has
extreme ramifications with their ability to compete
and be profitable,” Mielke said.
Allert pointed to What’s Upstream billboards fund-
ed by the Environmental Protection Agency, which
incorrectly condemned agriculture as polluters, as a
reason agriculture has to be involved in the process.
“We can’t ever let up, obviously,” he said.
Far West Agribusiness Association executive di-
rector Jim Fitzgerald is taking on some of the duties
of longtime agriculture advocate Jack Silzel, who
represents the agribusiness council on the chamber’s
public policy committee.
They are “two great, great resources for agriculture
to be representing us,” Allert said.
The Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest
Farm Forum remains the organization’s “Cadillac” for
showcasing the industry, Allert said.
Allert hopes even more people become involved,
building on existing efforts.
“AgriBusiness Council has evolved, and has been
evolving for several years,” Allert said. “We have a
great position of representing the industry with Wash-
ington’s second-largest business organization, so
we’re thrilled about that.”
Photographs capturing the
essence of rural life will again
be displayed at this year’s
Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific
Northwest Farm Forum.
They are part of the Expo’s
annual photo contest.
“This contest celebrates rural
life, and we love to see all the
moments that make up that life,”
said photo contest judge Rajah
Bose, a Spokane photographer
and co-founder of the photo
and video design studio Factory
Town. “Whether it’s brilliantly
lit, harshly gritty or just simply
sweet, there is no better person
to find those moments than the
ones living it.”
The contest received 75 en-
tries.
In the youth category, win-
ners were:
• First place: Avery Hughes
of Newman Lake, Wash.,
for “What Are You Looking
At?”
“We were sure this was a
painting at first as it seemed
like a perfect composition,”
Bose said. “We appreciated the
photographer’s ability to get
in tight on this image, which
yielded a beauty that wouldn’t
have been obvious in a wider
image. Beautiful texture and
color.”
• Second place: Anna Leitz
of Spokane, for “Are You My
Momma?”
• Third place: Hughes for
“Grape Leaf Perspective.”
The Greater Spokane Incor-
porated’s Choice award went to
Leitz’s “Are You My Momma?”
Honorable mention went to
Hughes’ “Bovines at Sundown,”
Emma Kate Bartels of Spangle,
Wash., for “Snazzy Jazzy,” and
Leitz for “Team Work.”
Judges were surprised to see
fewer entries in the youth cate-
gory this year, Bose said.
“Even so, there were some
great images to choose from,”
Bose said. “We love to see pho-
tos that show your life and the
unique moments you see around
you every day. Teachers and
parents, this is a fun and edu-
“What Are You Looking At?” by Avery Hughes of
Newman Lake, Wash.
“Resistance and Resilience” by Alyx Hanson of
Elk, Wash.
“We were sure this
was a painting at
first as it seemed
like a perfect
composition.”
photo contest judge Rajah Bose
cational way to capture and tell
the stories happening around the
ranch, home and surrounding
farms.”
Adult winners were:
• First place: Alyx Hanson of
Elk, Wash., for “Resistance and
Resilience.”
“This image was a univer-
sal favorite among the judges,”
Bose said. “The emotion was
easy to read in the kid’s face,
and there was enough context
that made the picture quick to
understand.”
• Second place: John Bartels
of Spangle for “Early Morning
Wash Rack Trip.”
“Cold Weather Women” by Ashley Hanson of Elk, Wash.
• Third place: Steve Shining
of Spokane for “Dusty Plow-
ing.”
The Director’s Choice Award
went to Ashley Hanson of Elk
for “Cold Weather Women.”
The Greater Spokane Incor-
porated’s Choice award went to
Sharon Lindsay of Spokane for
“Vintage Harvest 2016.”
Honorable mention went to
Ryan Esvelt of Rice, Wash., for
“Morning Drive,” Jim Heywood
of Chattaroy, Wash., for “Dance
of the Harvesters” and Sue Te-
bow of Moses Lake, Wash. for
“My Bulls.”
Bose offered advice for next
year’s photographers: “Focus
on capturing genuine moments,
great light and beautiful compo-
sition.”