September 12, 2025

Double rainbow takes top prize in Favorite Farm Photo Contest

By AgriNews Staff
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” — Erica Rabe: “We don’t always get the rain, but we will get the rainbows.”

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” — Erica Rabe: “We don’t always get the rain, but we will get the rainbows.”

PRINCETON, Ill. — “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” the winning picture in the annual online AgriNews Favorite Farm Photo Contest, was submitted by Erica Rabe of Princeton.

“These pictures help us tell the story of modern agriculture. They depict life and work on farms today and give everyone a glimpse into our lives and livelihoods, showcasing why we do what we do,” said AgriNews Executive Editor James Henry.

Throughout the month of July, shutterbugs uploaded photographs to the AgriNews website at www.agrinews-pubs.com. Then during the first two weeks in August everyone could vote for their favorite.

Receiving the highest number of votes, Rabe won a $50 gift card. In the photograph, a double rainbow glows over a farmstead with two red barns.

“We don’t always get the rain, but we will get the rainbows,” Rabe said.

The following companies sponsored the AgriNews contest: Community State Bank, Kaeb Sales Inc., Land Pro LLC and Sublette Farmers Elevator Co.

See all of the images at: https://tinyurl.com/FavoriteFarmPhotos-2025.

“County Fair Bucket Calf Show” — Christen Parks: “Everly, age 5, and Fred getting ready for the Schuyler County Fair in Rushville, Illinois. Just a quick kiss for luck and ‘Let’s go do this.’”

“County Fair Bucket Calf Show” — Christen Parks: “Everly, age 5, and Fred getting ready for the Schuyler County Fair in Rushville, Illinois. Just a quick kiss for luck and ‘Let’s go do this.’”

“Waylon and Ruby” — Levi Yoder: “Just a farm boy hanging out with his Highland cow! ‘Hey, Ruby, you’re my best friend.’”

“Waylon and Ruby” — Levi Yoder: “Just a farm boy hanging out with his Highland cow! ‘Hey, Ruby, you’re my best friend.’”

“Simple Tools” — Brian Berger: “Daddy’s helper uses the simple tools.”

“Simple Tools” — Brian Berger: “Daddy’s helper uses the simple tools.”

“Springtime Rows” — Tyler Paydon: “Paydon Farms.”

“Springtime Rows” — Tyler Paydon: “Paydon Farms.”

“Myos on the Prairie” — Aubrey Setchell: “I love watching my myotonics play in the field. When they get done in the show ring, it’s time to play.”

“Myos on the Prairie” — Aubrey Setchell: “I love watching my myotonics play in the field. When they get done in the show ring, it’s time to play.”

“Slowly Growing” — Gwen Hall: “Each day in the barn, the young lamb builds strength and confidence. ‘Slowly Growing’ captures a quiet moment in its journey toward the show ring.”

“Slowly Growing” — Gwen Hall: “Each day in the barn, the young lamb builds strength and confidence. ‘Slowly Growing’ captures a quiet moment in its journey toward the show ring.”

“Moe the Mule” — Megan Spicer: “Moe the Mule.”

“Moe the Mule” — Megan Spicer: “Moe the Mule.”

“Proud to Be an American” — Lisa Kozell: “Most beautiful view from my front yard. I’m a true American that’s proud of my great farmer neighbor.”

“Proud to Be an American” — Lisa Kozell: “Most beautiful view from my front yard. I’m a true American that’s proud of my great farmer neighbor.”

“Triple Creek Bison” — Donald Rogers: “Eco-agriculture.”

“Triple Creek Bison” — Donald Rogers: “Eco-agriculture.”

“Ahhh, Kansas” — Leslie Tanner: “Right place right time. Stafford County at sunset.”

“Ahhh, Kansas” — Leslie Tanner: “Right place right time. Stafford County at sunset.”

“Playing Ball at Sunset” — Beth Kohlhagen: “My 4-H calves love playing with their green bouncy ball. Every night after I am finished with cattle chores I will always take a curry comb and their green ball out to the pasture. I chuck their ball and then they go flying after it. Soot, which is looking at me in the picture, loves to wallow his head all over the ball and pick it up by the handle with his mouth. They always know that I will curry them, so they come right up to me and I get to curry their whole body. It’s like a massage to them.”

“Playing Ball at Sunset” — Beth Kohlhagen: “My 4-H calves love playing with their green bouncy ball. Every night after I am finished with cattle chores I will always take a curry comb and their green ball out to the pasture. I chuck their ball and then they go flying after it. Soot, which is looking at me in the picture, loves to wallow his head all over the ball and pick it up by the handle with his mouth. They always know that I will curry them, so they come right up to me and I get to curry their whole body. It’s like a massage to them.”

“Harvest Glow” — Bree Kohlhagen: “The light that lingers when the work is done. A field of golden crisp soybeans lay upon the hours to come.”

“Harvest Glow” — Bree Kohlhagen: “The light that lingers when the work is done. A field of golden crisp soybeans lay upon the hours to come.”

“Grateful” — Betsy Dolder: “What a way to end a day, pulling into the driveway with a beautiful sunset. It truly has a way of making one feel grateful while reflecting on the day.”

“Grateful” — Betsy Dolder: “What a way to end a day, pulling into the driveway with a beautiful sunset. It truly has a way of making one feel grateful while reflecting on the day.”

“Early Morning” — Cindy Hoyle: “This was captured early one Saturday morning looking out across my farm.”

“Early Morning” — Cindy Hoyle: “This was captured early one Saturday morning looking out across my farm.”

“Setting Sun” — Brian Schrowang: “Steiger getting it done.”

“Setting Sun” — Brian Schrowang: “Steiger getting it done.”

“At the End of the Day” — Bonnie Postma: “Caught this picture at the end of the day. It was a good day, crops were good and God sent that beautiful sunset.”

“At the End of the Day” — Bonnie Postma: “Caught this picture at the end of the day. It was a good day, crops were good and God sent that beautiful sunset.”

Community State Bank

Kaeb Sales

Land Pro LLC

Sublette Farmers Elevator Co.

Farm Family Life
AgriNews Staff

AgriNews Staff

The Illinois AgriNews and Indiana AgriNews staff is in the field each week, covering topics that affect local farm families and their businesses. We give readers information they can’t get elsewhere to help them make better farming decisions.