Idaho youth photographers receive contest honors

Several Bonner County students were honored for their work in the tenth annual Arbor Day photo contest sponsored by the Idaho Forest Products Commission.

Nearly two hundred photographs were submitted for consideration in the contest, which asked students in grades 5 to 12 to portray what they see when they “look to the forest.”

“The photographs are beautiful and original,” said IFPC Director Jennifer Okerlund. “It is evident through the students’ statements that they recognize the many benefits Idaho trees and forests provide, including a sense of peace and steadiness during a tumultuous time. The Commission is honored to provide the competition as a way for Idaho students to reflect on and share their ties to this renewable and sustainable natural resource.”

One grand prize winner, four division winners and 33 honorable mentions were selected by a panel of judges. A number of Bonner County students were among those whose work was selected to receive honorable mention recognition.

In addition to their photograph, students were asked to show what they see when they “Look To The Forest,” the theme of this year’s contest by including a statement sharing their vision of how their photo relates to the contest theme.

Kanyon Christman of Christman Academy in Rigby won first place in the 5th-6th grade division and was also named the overall grand prize winner for the photo, “3 Peas in a Pod.” In honor of the winning photo, Christman will receive a $100 cash prize As first place winners of the four grade divisions, Christman, along with Olivia Stanton of Lewis & Clark Middle School in Meridian, Annika Zuschlag of Boise High School, and Caleb Starner of Liberty Charter School in Nampa will each receive a $50 cash prize.

From Bonner County, winning honorable mention honors were:

• Bodie Pirlot, a fifth grade student at Southside Elementary in Cocolalla. His teacher is Barbie Hunt. His photo, titled “Backroads”, included the statement: “Look to the Forest” to escape the everyday hustle. No traffic here!

• Sage Saccomanno, a senior at Sandpoint High School. Her teacher is John Hastings. Her photo is titled, “February 2020 – Grooming up Trestle Creek with my dad.”

“This photo relates to the theme because it connects with many Idahoans on a personal level,” Saccomanno wrote in submitting her photo. “These forests where I and many others have grown up snowmobiling, skiing, hiking and much more are home to us, and this picture shows a backside of that home.”

All winning photos entries can be viewed at https://idahoforests.org/photocontest.