BY SAM ADAMS
AgAlert
California agriculture relies on work that often goes unseen, carried out by farmers, ranchers and their animals. The 44th annual California Farm Bureau Photo Contest documented their efforts as seen through the lenses of farmers, ranchers and their families.
The winning images showcase family traditions and the dedication required to keep the state’s farms running. Each entry captured the work, care and dedication that sustain farms and ranches across the state.
A total of $2,200 in cash prices was awarded.
The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom sponsored the Budding Artists category, encouraging young photographers to document agricultural life.
Ranch silhouette wins annual photo award
Joelle Naphan has been surrounded by agriculture her whole life, raising commercial steers and quarter horses on her family’s ranch. Her roots grew into a passion for photography.
Eager to capture Western-inspired images, Naphan came up with the idea for a silhouette photo. As the sun set over the ranch, her brother practiced with his lasso while Naphan framed the shot, capturing the moment against the colorful sky.
“Agriculture is an art that has been refined by multiple generations, just as this particular loop my brother was throwing has been refined by hours of practice,” she said.
Second Place was awarded to Michelle Foster, San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau.
Harvest season always draws Foster back to the vineyards, where she joins her husband with her camera at the ready.
“It’s a reminder that there are real hands and hard work behind the grapes that eventually end up in your glass of wine,” she said.
With a background in the wine industry, Foster loves capturing its spirit through her photos.
“It represents the generations of care and dedication that go into every vine,” she said.
Third place went to Sean Long, Nevada County Farm Bureau
Long, who raises horses, goats, sheep and chickens, relies on his dog Rosie, an Australian heeler, to keep the family ranch safe at night from predators. But she also makes a great photo subject.
He said he was wandering his yard with a camera in early March when he saw his photo opportunity.
“I was looking for some birds to take photos of when I spotted Rosie in the distance,” he said. “I got pretty lucky when she paused for a second. She usually comes running when she sees me trying to take her picture.”
People’s Choice award went to Laura McGrath, Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau.
At DePalma Orchards in Marysville, agriculture is a family affair for Laura and Tony McGrath, a third-generation farmer who grows prunes, peaches and almonds. The family also operates a commercial prune dehydrator.
One morning, their 1-year-old granddaughter, Rylie Bird, was “helping Nonna” at the dehydrator when Laura McGrath decided to snap a few photos. Sitting in a bin of freshly harvested fruit, Rylie seemed right at home.
“I feel the photo depicts how early the love of agriculture can be instilled in kids,” Laura McGrath said.
First place in the Budding Artists category went to Lily Wirz, 12, San Benito County Farm Bureau.
On her family’s ranch in San Benito County’s Cienega Valley, Wirz spends her days surrounded by winegrapes, cattle and walnuts. When her teacher wanted pet photos for a classroom game, she immediately thought of her rooster, Chick-a-Boom.
“He was very gentle with people and his hens,” Lily said.
Taken one morning in her backyard, the photo captures her fondness for the rooster and the rural life she’s grown up in as the fourth generation on her family’s ranch.
Second place in the Budding Artists category went to Grady Rocca, 12, Fresno County Farm Bureau.
When Rocca set out with his dad to take photos near their home in Easton, he didn’t have to look far for inspiration. Agriculture runs deep in his family. Both of his grandfathers were lifelong farmers, and his dad teaches agriculture at California State University, Fresno.
Using the family’s Nikon camera, Grady captured a late-afternoon shot of Thompson Seedless grapes in a neighbor’s vineyard just before harvest.
“There used to be a lot of raisin grapes in our area,” he said. “Raisins are still an important crop in California and a great snack.”
Courtesy of the California Farm Bureau
