The 7th Annual Amateur Photo Contest, hosted by the Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District (UNWNRD), was open from January 1st, 2026, to August 1st, 2026. The UNWNRD received nearly 250 natural resources related photos that were sorted into six different categories. The 2026 categories were: Nature, Wildlife, Agriculture, Landscape, Other and Youth (16 and under). 2026 was the first year for the Youth Category and nearly 40 photos were received in that category alone! “We have been receiving photos from some very young photographers over the years so the Board felt it was time to give the youth in our District a category all to themselves and we were very impressed with the number of photos received as well as the quality,” stated Mike Strasburger, UNWNRD Director.
After UNWNRD staff spent weeks narrowing down photos to find the best candidates in each category, the UNWNRD Board of Directors selected the top photos during the August 13th Board Meeting. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winner in each category and of those six top photos one winning photo will be made into a canvas print and displayed in the UNWNRD Office until the 2027 winners are selected.
The 2026 Winners are:
Other: Jim Keegan, Hemingford – “Mother Nature, Unleashed”
Photo Location: Dawes County
Thanks to all who submitted photos this year! The UNWNRD is eager to see many more amazing photos of Northwest Nebraska in years to come. Please see the UNWNRD website (www.unwnrd.org) for a slide show of some of the honorable mention photographs received over the years or stop by the office at 430 East 2nd Street to see the 2026 winning photo.
The 2027 photo contest will open on January 1st, 2027!