OCSWCD Photo Contest winner announced

Photo:

FIRST PLACE — The Meandering Androscoggin, Rumford Point, Maine – Jade Gianforte of Rumford.

OXFORD COUNTY — The Winner of the 3rd Annual Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District Photo Contest is Jade Gianforte of Rumford with her photo entitled "The Meandering Androscoggin, Rumford Point, Maine."

Jade grew up in central New York where she developed a love for farming. Surrounded by dairy and horse farms, her jobs throughout high school and college were at various local farms. Jade attended a small university in western New York where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Biology.

After college, she became assistant farm manager at Meadowood Farms in Cazenovia, NY. Meadowood Farms specializes in breeding Registered Belted Galloway show cattle and producing yogurts and cheeses from their dairy sheep flock. A few years later, Jade decided to move to Maine where she continues to show beef cattle, raising Registered Black Angus and Simmentals.

Jade began working for USDA-NRCS as a part-time Soil Conservation Technician in Oxford County in 2008. After taking some additional college courses, she became a full time Soil Conservationist in Oxford County. She was later transferred to Franklin County where she continues to serve as a Soil Conservationist.

About the photo, Jade says, “the photo was taken from what we call 'the Lookout' which is across the river from my house. You have to hike up there. It looks down on Rumford Point and the Rumford Point bridge. The hay field you can see on the point is harvested by Sunday River Farms and is part of a rotation with oats, corn and potatoes. The view is looking upstream towards Bethel. Fields you can see in the distance are hayed by us (Pine Creek Show Cattle) as well as Hasting’s Farm.”

Jade receives a prize package which includes a gift card from Paris Farmers Union in South Paris, a gift package from Aubuchon Hardware in Norway, a gift certificate for any combination of butter, eggs, meat, milk, grain, pet food, hay or compost at Rosebeck Farm in South Paris, and a quart of maple syrup from Colebrook Farm in South Paris.

Three other photos were chosen for Honorable Mention. The first photo was entitled "Winter at Robert’s Farm" by Brenda Melhus of Norway.

Brenda says “Our family moved to Norway, Maine in 1994. I stayed at home and raised four sons, volunteering in SAD 17 until the last son graduated in 2006. Shortly thereafter, I became involved in Norway Downtown and most recently also in the Norway Opera House Corporation. We are very lucky to live in a town with such a rich history and beautiful structures. It is my town and I am doing what I can to promote and preserve it.”

Brenda goes on to say “I enjoy cross country skiing and snowshoeing at Roberts Farm Preserve. When I go there, I always take my camera. It is such a beautiful area and the opportunity often arises to catch nature at its best. This photo (Winter at Roberts Farm) is one of those moments.”

The other two photos chosen for Honorable Mention, "Hazy Morning" and "Eagles Keep Watchful Eye Over Pond," were both taken by Kathy Hussey of Peru. Kathy says she is an “avid picture taker, not professional by any means” and was encouraged to enter the winning photos by her husband, Bill.

The Husseys bought a camp on Worthley Pond in 2005, did lots of work to it, then decided to sell their home and make the camp their home. In the process of raising the camp to put a foundation beneath it, they ran into more problems than could be dealt with, so they tore the camp down and built a new home! Kathy has been active with the Worthley Pond Association since owning property on the pond.

The winning photographers will be recognized for their work at the Annual Meeting on April 20. The Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District would like to congratulate the winners and thank all who participated in the 3rd Annual Photo Contest.

The District would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that the contest is a yearly event, so keep your eye out for photo opportunities.

You may contact the Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District (OCSWCD) by calling 743-5789, ext. 101/111 or emailing jean.federico@me.nacdnet.net. Check out the 2013 Calendar of Workshops, Events and Sales at www.oxfordswcd.net.

Photo:

HONORABLE MENTION — Winter at Robert’s Farm – Brenda Melhus of Norway.