Winners named for Illinois' 2021 Cream of the Crop Photo Contest

Posted August 11, 2021 11:00 pm

Submitted by the Office of Illinois State Treasurer

Greta Falk of Elburn takes second place with "Baby Chick and Radishes" in the age 11-14 category.

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs recently announced the winners of the 2021 Cream of the Crop Photo Contest.

The annual contest encourages young photographers to explore and take photos that share their vision of agriculture in the state.

"Congratulations to all the winners of this year's Cream of the Crop photo contest and thank you to every student who submitted a photo," Frerichs said. "We are proud of the images of Illinois agriculture captured by students across throughout our state. Through the hundreds of beautiful photos submitted, we can see first-hand why Illinois is a worldwide leader in agriculture."

Winning photo entries can be viewed at www.illinoistreasurer.gov.

Winning entries and other submissions will be featured in a 2021-2022 calendar and used in marketing materials.

There were three age-based categories for this year's contest: ages 8-10, 11‑14, and 15-18. Each student was allowed to submit up to two photos by June 24.

Ag Invest is one of the nation's largest agricultural linked deposit programs. It helps hundreds of Illinois farmers and agriculture professionals. The treasurer's office, through the Ag Invest program, partners with eligible lenders to offer farmers and ag businesses annual and long-term, low-interest loans which can be used for operating costs, equipment purchases, construction-related expenses, and livestock purchases.

For more information about the Cream of the Crop Photo contest, visit www.CreamoftheCropContest.com or contact Rebecca Huston at (217) 558-6217.

8-10 age winners

• First place: Caroline Lee, "My Life," Wellington (Iroquois County)

• Second place: Caroline Lee, "Competitive Cattle," Wellington (Iroquois County)

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Lilah Poplawski of Downers Grove wins third place in the age 8-10 category with "Soaking Up the Sunshine."

Third place: Lilah Poplawski, "Soaking Up the Sunshine," Downers Grove (DuPage County)

11-14 age winners

• First place: Nolan Lee, "Family Tradition," Wellington (Iroquois County)

• First place: Blake Ferguson-Allen, "Butterfly on Sunflower," Dixon (Lee County)

• Second place: Greta Falk, "Baby Chick and Radishes," Elburn (Kane County)

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In the 11-14 age category, Alyssa Ellison of Crystal Lake takes third place with "Frozen Berries."

Third place: Alyssa Ellison, "Frozen Berries," Crystal Lake (McHenry County)

15-18 age winners

• First place: Anna Johnson, "The Purest Bond," Durand (Winnebago County)

• Second place: Gordon Rath, "Farming Planting in the Rain," East Dubuque (Jo Daviess County)

• Third place: Denzell Schwartz, "Nap Time," Franklin Grove (Lee County).

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