Cooperative Extension in Washington County

Washington County 4-H photo contest winners find beauty in animals, people, nature

4-H photographers took home top honors at this year’s annual Washington County 4-H Contest, capturing farm animals, ocean life, flowers and more. 

Sponsored by the University of Cooperative Extension, the contest used photography as a meaningful communication tool and to develop life skills in expressive arts. Participants, ages 5-19, were allowed to submit up to six entries in their age division of senior, junior and cloverbud 4-H members. Categories included nature/landscape, people, animals, architecture, 4-H activities and storyboard. Thirty-four photos were entered in the 4-H photo contest this year. 

All entries were judged on focus, lighting, print quality, subject, composition, impact quality and uniqueness. Judges included 4-H volunteers from the Lubec Community Outreach Center, Downeast Coastal Conservancy and the Washington County Extension Association. 

Top blue ribbons in the senior division, ages 14-19, were awarded to Cobscook Currents 4-H Club members Nellie Boston for “Golden Girl” and “A Strawberry’s Journey” in the animal and storyboard category and Linda Jessiman for “Shaping Up”and “Place of Dreams”  in the architecture and nature/landscape category.  

In the junior division, ages 9-13, Cobscook Currents 4-H club members Ruth Bell took top honors for “Picture Perfect Photo Lesson,” “Better Than the Easter Bunny,” “Lifting Lobsters” and “Egg-ceptional Prank” in the 4-H activity, animal, people and storyboard categories. Cobscook Currents 4-H members Ira Danielson and Soren Danielson received a blue ribbon for “So.Many.Bikes” in the architecture and “On Top of the World” in the nature/landscape category. Cloverbud 4-H members, ages 5-8, received participation ribbons.

A judge’s choice award was also awarded to Cobscook Currents 4-H club members Ruth Bell for “Picture Perfect Photo Lesson,” and Nellie Boston for two submissions “A Beachy Day in Boston” and “Golden Girl.”

All photos will be on display at the Lubec Memorial Library, 55 N. Water Street, during the month of Sept.

For more information about the contest or 4-H, contact Gabrielle Brodek, at 207.255.3345; 1.800.287.1542 (toll free within Maine) or by email at gabrielle.brodek@maine.edu.