Pufferbilly Days is over and I can finally exhale. It was a lot of work for me and a ton of work for all the people that volunteered their time to help out. But that is a list for another time. This is a post where I share the winners from this year’s contest.
And the Puffer goes to…
BEST IN SHOW – “Ductile” – Anthony Davis
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD – “Summer Ruby” – Nicki Acton
1ST PLACE OVER ALL – ADULT – “A Peak into Saint Fin Barre” – Julie Brown
2ND PLACE OVERALL – ADULT – “Summer Ruby” – Nicki Acton
3RD PLACE OVERALL – ADULT – “Locked In” – Melissa Bell
1ST PLACE OVERALL – TEEN – “Into the Sun” – Brooklynn Daigh
2ND PLACE OVERALL – TEEN – “Swinging” – Emarose Davis
3RD PLACE OVERALL – TEEN – “Horse Eye” – Rylin Casey
1ST PLACE OVERALL – YOUTH – “Untitled” – Cyler Acton
2ND PLACE OVERALL – YOUTH – “Through a Mystic World” – Brantlee Staebler
3RD PLACE OVERALL – YOUTH – “Old 30 Gas Station” – Brantlee Staebler
1ST PLACE ANIMALS – ADULT – “It’s a Boy!” – Janae Erickson
2ND PLACE – ANIMALS – ADULT – “Unbridled”- Melissa Bell
3RD PLACE – ANIMALS – ADULT – “Claire’s Simple Pleasure” – Carla Stensland
HONORABLE MENTION – ANIMALS – ADULT – “Parrot” – Bethany Shadle
HONORABLE MENTION – ANIMALS – ADULT – “A Relaxing Day in the Porch” – Sean Taylor
HONORABLE MENTION – ANIMALS – ADULT – “Upside Down Owl” – Nicki Acton
1ST PLACE – BLACK & WHITE – ADULT – “Lakeside Solitude” – Carla Stensland
2ND PLACE – BLACK & WHITE – ADULT – “A Dance Between Shadows & Light” – Shanon Duchene
3RD PLACE – BLACK & WHIE – ADULT – “Lunch on the Go” – Nicki Acton
HONORABLE MENTION – BLACK & WHITE – ADULT – “Grains of Sand” – Heather Davis
HONORABLE MENTION – BLACK & WHITE – ADULT – “A Scholarly Toddler” – Janae Erickson
HONORABLE MENTION – BLACK & WHITE – ADULT – “Full Voice” – Anthony Davis
1ST PLACE – HUMANS – ADULT – “Welcome to the Circus” – Shanon Duchene
2ND PLACE – HUMANS – ADULT – “Daydream” – Melissa Bell
3RD PLACE – HUMANS – ADULT – “One Final Performance” – Janae Erickson
HONORABLE MENTION – HUMANS – ADULT – “Descent” – Anthony Davis
HONORABLE MENTION – HUMANS – ADULT – “The Sandlot” – Dawn Krause
HONORABLE MENTION – HUMANS – ADULT – “Georgia Lily” – John Roberts
1ST PLACE – PLACES – ADULT – “Convergence” – Anthony Davis
2ND PLACE – PLACES – ADULT – “Street Art: What is Home? By Asbestos” – Faye Brown
3RD PLACE – PLACES – ADULT – “Somewhere Along the Countryside” – Janae Erickson
HONORABLE MENTION – PLACES – ADULT – “Where the Light Leads” – Sarah Snyder
HONORABLE MENTION – PLACES – ADULT – “Devils Tower” – John Roberts
HONORABLE MENTION – PLACES – ADULT – “An Icelandic Layover” – Janae Erickson
1ST PLACE – PLANTS – ADULT – “Ballerinas” – Sean Taylor
2ND PLACE – PLANTS – ADULT – “Painted Petals” – Jianhua Yang
3RD PLACE – PLANTS – ADULT – “Lilac” – Bethany Shadle
HONORABLE MENTION – PLANTS – ADULT – “Glass Onion” – Dawn Krause
HONORABLE MENTION – PLANTS – ADULT – “Daylily on Parade” – Don Lester
1ST PLACE – THINGS – ADULT – “Long Train Runnin'” – Dawn Krause
2ND PLACE – THINGS – ADULT – “Tether Sunset” – Carla Stensland
3RD PLACE – THINGS – ADULT – “Night Shift” – Anthony Davis
HONORABLE MENTION – THINGS – ADULT – “Rails, Lights, and Fireworks” – Shanon Duchene
HONORABLE MENTION – THINGS – ADULT – “Puppy Brite” – Bethany Shadle
1ST PLACE – ANIMALS – TEEN – “The Ugly Duckling” – Faye Brown
2ND PLACE – ANIMALS – TEEN – “Lily” – Rylin Casey
3RD PLACE – ANIMALS – TEEN – “Angel 2.0′ – Rylin Casey
1ST PLACE – BLACK & WHITE – TEEN – “Best Friends” – Faye Brown
2ND PLACE – BLACK & WHITE – TEEN – “Little Details” – Jorja Daigh
3RD PLACE – BLACK & WHITE – TEEN – “Let Wind in Ur Face” – Daphne Harris
HONORABLE MENTION – BLACK & WHITE – TEEN – “Rocks by Lake” – Emarose Davis
1ST PLACE – HUMANS – TEEN – “Reflection” – Jorja Daigh
2ND PLACE – HUMANS – TEEN – “Through the Veil” – Jorja Daigh
3RD PLACE – HUMANS – TEEN – “On the Peak” – Jorja Daigh
HONORABLE MENTION – HUMANS – TEEN – “Baby Wobbles” – Brooklyn Daigh
1ST PLACE – PLACES – TEEN – “Still Evening” – Faye Brown
2ND PLACE – PLACES – TEEN – “Pink Sky” – Daphne Harris
3RD PLACE – PLACES – TEEN – “Northern Lights” – Rylin Casey
1ST PLACE – PLANTS – TEEN – “Flowers in the Sky” – Emarose Davis
2ND PLACE – PLANTS – TEEN – “Morning Columbine” – Faye Brown
3RD PLACE – PLANTS – TEEN – “Beem On” – Daphne Harris
HONORABLE MENTION – PLANTS – TEEN – “Day Dreaming” – Kayelee Burns
1ST PLACE – THINGS – TEEN – “Little Whites” – Faye Brown
2ND PLACE – THINGS – “Does this Ring Make Me Look Married” – Jorja Daigh
3RD PLACE – THINGS – TEEN – “Ye Olde Oak” – Kayelee Burns
HONORABLE MENTION – THINGS – TEEN – “Exhibit A” – Kayelee Burns
1ST PLACE – ANIMALS – YOUTH – “Christmas Dog” – Katelyn Hass
1ST PLACE – BLACK & WHITE – YOUTH – “21 and 12” – Kateyln Hass
1ST PLACE – PLACES – YOUTH – “Beautiful Night” – Katelyn Hass
2ND PLACE – PLACES – YOUTH – “Old Train Station” – Brantlee Staebler
3RD PLACE – PLACES – YOUTH – “Fishing Time” – Brantlee Staebler
1ST PLACE – PLANTS – YOUTH – “Lazy Susan” – Brantlee Staebler
2ND PLACE – PLANTS – YOUTH – “Yellow Sunshine” – Katelyn Hass
1ST PLACE – THINGS – YOUTH – “Up High” – Brantlee Staebler
There were 160 entries this year. 75 of them received an award of some kind. Nearly 47% of the pictures that were entered got an award of some kind. That was 34% of Adult entries. 66% of Teen entries. 100% of Youth entries. Next year those numbers will hopefully raise slightly. Then again, with percentage points, it depends on entries. It would be fairer to say that I want to give out more awards next year. That translates into more Honorable Mentions.
Here is a statistical breakdown of the participation in this years photo contest:
- PARTICIPANTS BY AGE DIVISION
- Adult – 23
- Teen – 7
- Youth – 3
- SUBMISSIONS BY AGE DIVISION
- Adult – 111
- Teen – 38
- Youth – 11
- SUBMISSIONS BY CLASS
- Animals – 26
- Black & White – 31
- Humans – 29
- Places – 31
- Plants – 22
- Things – 21
- SUBMISSIONS BY CLASS FOR ADULT AGE DIVISION
- Animals – 20
- Black & White – 20
- Humans – 18
- Places – 25
- Plants – 13
- Things – 15
- SUBMSISSION BY CLASS FOR TEEN AGE DIVISION
- Animals – 4
- Black & White – 9
- Humans – 10
- Places – 3
- Plants – 7
- Things – 5
- SUBMISSIONS BY CLASS FOR YOUTH AGE DIVISION
- Animals – 2
- Black & White – 2
- Humans – 1
- Places – 3
- Plants – 2
- Things – 1
I also have a long list of people to thank. The Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest would not have come together without these people’s assistance:
- THANK YOU!
- Monica Jennings (Graphic Design – Promotional Material and the Book, downtown photo display setup, and Art in the Park photo display setup)
- Boone First United Methodist Church (For the use of Fellowship Hall for judging, storage, and photo display setup)
- Logan Kahler (Judging, downtown photo display setup, downtown photo display tearing down, and box truck lending)
- Teresa Kahler (Administrative and Art in the Park teardown and made the Best in Show and People’s Choice trophies)
- Valerie Parker (Administrative)
- Angie DeWaard (Judging)
- Jon Wilson (Judging)
- Jesse Howard (Downtown photo display teardown, Art in the Park photo display setup, Art in the Park photo display guardian, Art in the Park photo display teardown, and box truck driving)
- Johnathan Stensland (Downtown photo display teardown)
- Graham Jennings (Art in the Park photo display setup)
- Dawn Krause (Art in the Park photo display teardown)
- Kevin Krause (Art in the Park photo display teardown)
- Kayelee Burns (Art in the Park photo display teardown)
- Andy Sharp (Art in the Park photo display teardown)
- Kelly Howard (temporarily storing one photo display)
- Heather Davis (Coordinating the Downtown Photo Display locations and kicking one of them in the butt when they weren’t open on Saturday like they said they would be)
- 4 Pawd Creations (Hosting Award winners)
- Paradox (Hosting Youth entries)
- Infamous Ink (Hosting Adult and Teen Black & White entries)
- Central Iowa Massage (Hosting Adult and Teen Plants entries)
- Boone Theater (Hosting Adult and Teen Things entries)
- Janae + Co. (Hosting Adult and Teen Animal entries)
- Emma Elegance (Hosting Adult and Teen Places entries)
- Melissa Bell Photography (Adult & Teen Humans entries)
- Alissa Morgan (Took care of most of the awards and was my point person at The Chamber)
- Tim McGlynn (Puffer Shed access and all around point person with the Pufferbilly Days Committee)
As you can see, it takes a bunch of people to put this contest on and at times it is barely scraping by. My way of saying there are plenty of volunteer positions available for next year! Seriously, I can certainly use about any skillset! Just let me know if you are interested.
What is below is just me thinking aloud. It is probably the best for all of us, if you don’t continue reading.
Obviously the contest wasn’t perfect. This year, for the first time ever I had somebody come up to me to complain about the judging. They thought that the judges like too much “artsy fartsy” stuff. They wanted me to make sure that I noted that the winner of Best in Show didn’t get a single vote in the People’s Choice Awards voting. Then went on to tell me about how “posed” pictures shouldn’t do very well in photo contests. Then followed this up by telling me that in their opinion (they didn’t qualify it with pointing out it was their opinion) what the picture in the contest was. It was a posed image.
It was actually a good thing that somebody complained in my opinion. That means there is passion out there for the Photo Contest. To me that means that the Photo Contest is in a good place! For years I was worried that the photo contest was going to die! When my inside man (Kio) was able to get me the gig 6 years ago it was on life support. 20 pictures were entered. That was it. 20 pictures. There were 160 pictures entered this year. The 2nd most since I’ve taken over. Hopefully there will be more than 160 next year. Hopefully it will be a new record. Which was 168 set in 2024. Let’s do it 2027!
But the “artsy-fartsiness” leanings of Angie, Jon, and Logan aside. There are other things that can be improved for next year.
For example, as the old peg board slowly gets retired and replaced by gridwalls, going to need to start taping the ribbons down. Every once in awhile the ribbons will get blown and flip over to the backside or worse behind the pictures completely. I’d add that sometimes the ribbon placement covered the most important element of a picture’s composition. That is something I will have to watch out for next year.
The budget should allow me to buy 6 more 6’x2′ gridwalls next year. That should definitely give us way more flexibility in the displays. There were three 6’x4′ displays this year. There was also three 6’x6′ displays. The 6’x4′ displays stay straight like a champ when being transported. The 6’x6′ are definitely more bendy. Need to work on that. I’d also like to get the Teen pictures split back off from the Adult pictures.
In 2025 those was only a smattering of TEEN entries. This year it rebounded to a robust 38 entries! But meanwhile the YOUTH entries fell to a paltry 11 entries. I’m not sure if this is cyclical or not. I’m pretty sure that 2 of the 3 YOUTH that entered will age up to TEEN next year. If you know any YOUTH out there (12 and under) that enjoy taking pictures, you know where to send them!
I was pleased with the Art in the Park display for the most part. The one thing being that the pictures that are displayed on individual easels rather than the gridwalls were all on one level. Next year I will need to figure out a way to put some on a higher tier than the others. I have some ideas for that though. However, I am open to other people’s ideas.
Another photo display item I think can be improved is the quality of the tags that are used to put the pictures on the gridwalls. The ones from 2025 worked great, but turns out not all tags are created the same. The ones from this year were cheap and didn’t stay stuck to the back of heavier pictures sometimes. That is an easy fix.
It does seem that most of my ideas for improvements are related to the photo display. They are, but that is because the photo display is the hardest and least fun part of this job. I’m not done with things that I think can be tweaked to improve the photo displays.
I’d like to improve how each class is marked with the photo display. My idea for this is by adding an acrylic or canvas photo print to each display that indicates that this is ADULT THINGS or TEEN ANIMALS. The one difficulty here being that that the photo displays are already a bit short on space. I can add grid walls next year. What I can’t add is space in the windows that display the photos. The fun of the mathematics of window space!
I have the dream of someday only have the photo contest in a single location. But that is probably a pipe dream. A sweet opium induced pope dream.
Another thing I will need to consider is what to do about the People’s Choice voting. It was another year where people felt the need to sit at home and hit refresh and vote for themselves thousands of times. The saddest part of this to me is that they were adults. I left the online voting so a person could vote more than once if they refreshed the page. The idea here is that families with kids could vote and then let their kids vote. Instead, people vote over and over and over again. I admit that the People’s Choice trophy is a pretty sweet trophy, but isn’t so sweet that I would vote for myself thousands of times. I don’t even have the time to do that. I have stuff to do.
The obvious answer is to just get rid of the People’s Choice Award. I created it to get other people to advertise the contest for us. I’m not sure that has been a success. The People’s Choice voting setup is hours of work. So it is frustrating when people choose to game the system. The other options are to really tighten down on how you vote online. Require an email address or some multi-factor authentication method. That seems like even more work. My other idea is to do paper ballots. I’m not 100% how to do that either.
But if I got rid of the People’s Choice Award would I need to replace it? It could be replaced with some kind of Sweepstakes Award for the person that does the best over all. Like they do at county fairs. Another option I’ve been toying with for years now would be a Chairman’s Award. Where I give the Chairman’s Award to a picture I think the judges completely missed the boat on.
One other improvement I’ve been kicking around for a couple years would be an addendum to the entry form. A page of suggestions. This is sorta triggered by a larger than normal amount of people that couldn’t follow the rules this year. Minor things from not putting the entry tag in the right location. To people missing the deadline (for the first time ever I had to tell them that they were too late) to entering pictures on the wrong size mounting board to people that entered under company names.
But a key component to this addition would be explaining how to pick what class your image should be entered in. I moved way more pictures to different classes this year than I ever have in the past. I should have moved plenty more if we are being honest.
Then finally, should I change the classes again?
I try to change the classes based on what is getting participation. If a class is getting over 20 entries, is there a way to divide it into 2 different classes? In 2024 there were over 30 entries for PLACES. In 2025 I split that into IOWA PLACES and OUTSIDE IOWA PLACES. Entries dropped in PLACES. I merged it back into one class for 2026. But I could certainly split them up again. I could split ANIMALS into PETS and WILD ANIMALS. I could eliminate BLACK & WHITE and let those images percolate back into their classes. I eliminated TRANSPORTATION this year. It was always a profoundly unpopular class. I could give it another shot. Or just bring it back under the Pufferbilly Day specific theme of RAILROADS. In 2025 I had 8 classes. This year I scaled it back to 6. Over the years I’ve eliminated PHOTOJOURNALISM and HIDDEN GEMS OF BOONE COUNTY as classes as well. I could split HUMANS into POSED PORTRAIT and CANDID PORTRAIT. I would love to have a STREET PHOTOGRAPHY class, but I don’t think I’d get many entries. Correction. I don’t think I’d get any entries.
That is probably enough spit balling. Until next year’s photo contest.