Love for the Wood River Valley can be exhibited in many ways. The Wood River Land Trust understands everyone's love for the valley, and its annual Heart of the Valley contest has become a true reflection of love by valley residents.
This year's contest announced its award winners on Friday, Feb. 12, at the Blagojce Gallery on the Walnut Avenue Mall in Ketchum during Gallery Walk. The Wood River Land Trust requested contestants to illustrate the ways in which the waters of the valley awe, inspire and nurture them.
Photographs and writing submissions featured the Wood River Valley's most valuable asset: water. First place in the Adult Writing Division went to "One More River to Cross" by Robin Sias, second to "Seasons on Silver Creek" by Rose Rumball-Petre and third to "An Aqueous Canticle" by Lee Brown. The staff favorite went to "Nature Nurture" by Michael Sewell.
In the Student Writing Division, first place went to "A Storm of My Wildest Wishes" by Lisa Laurel Hart, second to "My Daily Shower" by Eric Williamson and third to "The River Is My Soul" by Jim Williams. The staff favorite went to "Ice on the Water" by Brooke L. Lawrence.
First place in the Adult Photography Division went to "Reels on the Big Wood" by Timur and Justine Beriker, second to "Little Fish" by Terry Afdem and third to "Recharge" by Bass Sears. The staff favorite went to "Feet" by Bass Sears.
In the Student Photography Division, first place went to "Caught by a Fly" by Jon Atkinson, second to "Out by Beautiful Eagle Creek" by Ella Guy and third to "Big Wood River" by Oliver Guy. The staff favorite went to "Indian Creek Rainbow" by Nate Thomas.
Prizes for the winner were donated by White Otter Outdoor Adventures, Riccabona's, Company of Fools, Zou 75, Silver Creek Outfitters, Iconoclast Books, Rocky Mountain Hardware, Penelope's Café, The Wicked Spud and Zaney's River Street Coffee House.
The contest was sponsored by Bank of America, Iconoclast Books and Blagojce Gallery. The photos will remain on display at Blagojce Gallery through today, and then the winning photos will be displayed at Zaney's in Hailey from Feb. 20 to March 1, Penelope's in Ketchum from March 1-8, Bank of America in Ketchum from March 8-15 and The Brickhouse in Bellevue from March 16-22.
Writing contest winners will read at Iconoclast Books in Ketchum on Sunday, Feb. 21, from 4-6 p.m. For dates and locations to view winning selections, visit woodriverlandtrust.org.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
“Caught by a Fly” by Jon Atkinson, first-place photograph in the Wood River Land Trust’s Heart of the Valley contest, student division.
