Locals Win Big in 2023 Missouri Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest

(Farmington) The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has selected winners for their 2023 photo contest and three winners are from the area.

Each year, the department asks amateur photographers to get outside and capture the beauty of Missouri’s natural resources and enter their favorite photos in the annual photo contest.

Entries include images from anywhere in Missouri, featuring its beautiful natural resources, unique state parks, natural phenomena, outdoor recreation, scenic landscapes, weather, wildlife and people enjoying the outdoors.

This year, the department received nearly 900 entries for the contest.

Winning photos can be viewed at dnr.mo.gov/photo-contest.

In the “Natural Resources” category, the 3rd place winner is Mary Moore of Desoto for her entry titled “Bluebird on a Dogwood Tree”.

In the category of “People Enjoying Missouri’s Outdoors”, Keith Johnson of Farmington took 3rd place for his entry called “Summer Splash” and in the “Unique Places” category, Steve Bender of Cape Girardeau won 2nd place for his entry called “Mina Sauk Falls”.

Amateur photographers of all ages can enter next year’s photo contest hosted by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

It begins April 1st of next year.