Celebrating what makes the Wood River Valley home, the Wood River Land Trust's fourth annual Heart of the Valley contest has received its largest submission of images and writing ever. The theme of this year's contest, "Sustaining the Heart of Our Valley," saw twice as many photograph entries and a 50 percent increase in writing entries.
"It's growing not just in numbers, but in the creativity people are putting into it," said Heather Kimmel, program and membership coordinator for the Wood River Land Trust. "The array of topics that people addressed talk about the valley's history, community and very specific features in the landscape."
On Wednesday, Jan. 23, the Wood River Land Trust will announce the winners of the Heart of the Valley contest at an awards reception at Images of Nature Gallery, 371 N. Main St. in Ketchum, at 6:30 p.m. The evening will feature a short program to recognize the participants, as well as light hors d'oeuvres.
"We will have the majority of photographs on display," Kimmel said. "We split the writings into two categories and will do six awards, three for narrative and three for poetry. We have a staff favorite for overall writing."
Kimmel said they are working with Iconoclast Books to hold readings on Wednesdays in February.
The contest had an esteemed group of area judges. Judging photography was artist Bruce Kremer, professional photographer Gerry Morrison and wildlife photographer and environmental educator Diana Sharpless Wilde. Judging the writing was the director of the Blaine County College of Southern Idaho campus, Jenny Emory Davidson, Iconoclast Books owner Sarah Hedrick and Idaho Mountain Express contributing editor Greg Stahl.
"They did a great job," Kimmel said. "It was a hard job because it was stiff competition."
Wood River Land Trust's fourth annual Heart of the Valley Contest is sponsored by Bank of America. Prizes were provided by Iconoclast Books, Sturtevant's Mountain Outfitters, Silver Creek Outfitters, Patagonia and others. For more information, please contact Heather Kimmel at 788-3947 or hkimmel@woodriverlandtrust.org.