With a goal of showing who the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is and what it does, the Tennessee Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the international honor society of agriculture, launched an annual photography competition. The contest drew over 300 entries by students, faculty and staff, with images representing the institute’s impacts across the state.

2013-14 UTIA-wide Photo Competition Winners

'Wish I Was There' Landscape

» First Place: Fall Train Ride by Wildlife and Fisheries by student Carson Elizabeth Lillard
» Second Place: Fossil Lake by research associate professor Graham Hickling, Center for Wildlife Health
» Third Place: Shadows in the Dunes by Environmental Science student Matt Guenther
» Honorable Mention: The Less Seen Cades Cove by Food Science and Technology student Mark Andrew Shupe
» Honorable Mention: Fall Afternoon by UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences specialist Dena Wise
» Honorable Mention: Taking a Break from Studies in Switzerland by Biosystems Engineering student Will Barbour

Campus Scenes

» First Place: The 12th Men, Neyland Stadium by Food Science and Technology student Yun Zhang
» Second Place: Morgan Hall in March by UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences specialist Dena Wise
» Third Place: Tiger Swallowtail by Entomology and Plant Pathology professor Paris Lambdin
» Honorable Mention: UT Logo–Ag on Top by Sustainable Agriculture student Utsala Shrestha
» Honorable Mention: And the Tulips Spring by Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science student Lilian Wanjiru Mbuthia
» Honorable Mention: Morgan Hall Fall Colors by Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science student Lilian Wanjiru Mbuthia

Cold-Blooded Critters

» First Place: Salamander by research associate professor Graham Hickling, Center for Wildlife Health
» Second Place: Cold Blooded Critter by Bob Hayes, director, West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center
» Third Place: A Turtle's First Steps by Wildlife and Fisheries Management student Jared Keith Chrisp

Coolest Bug

» First Place: Mantis Meal by research associate professor Graham Hickling, Center for Wildlife Health
» Second Place: Cicada by Animal Science student John Michael Glafenhein
» Third Place: Cool Moth by Entomology and Plant Pathology professor Paris Lambdin
» Honorable Mention: Dragonfly by Bob Hayes, director, West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center
» Honorable Mention: Cool Butterfly by Entomology and Plant Pathology professor Paris Lambdin

Creepiest Whatever

» First Place: Birch Sawfly Larva by Bob Hayes, director, West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center
» Second Place: Witch's Butter Fungus by Entomology and Plant Pathology UT Extension specialist Alan Windham
» Third Place: Bat by Wildlife and Fisheries Management student Jared Keith Chrisp
» Honorable Mention: Insect Zombies by Entomology and Plant Pathology professor Paris Lambdin
» Honorable Mention: Bats from Congress Avenue Bridge by research assistant professor Denita Hadziabdic-Guerry, Entomology and Plant Pathology

Diagnostic or Medical

» First Place: Hollyhock Rust Pustules by Entomology and Plant Pathology UT Extension specialist Alan Windham
» Second Place: Yin and Yang of Our Work by research assistant professor Denita Hadziabdic-Guerry, Entomology and Plant Pathology
» Third Place: Pestalotia Conidia With Border by Entomology and Plant Pathology UT Extension specialist Alan Windham
» Honorable Mention: Geosmithia Morbida in a Walnut Twig Beetle Tunnel by Entomology and Plant Pathology research coordinator Katheryne Nix

Extension Outreach in Action

» First Place: Trotting by UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences specialist Dena Wise
» Second Place: Plateau AgResearch and Education Center Steak and Potatoes Field Tour by Sustainable Agriculture student Utsala Shrestha
» Third Place: UT Extension Kids in the Kitchen Demonstration by UT Extension Knox County agent Heather Kyle

Field Days & Public Events

» First Place: Jason Reeves Leads Tour of UT Gardens, Jackson by Bob Hayes, director, West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center
» Second Place: Field Day by Sustainable Agriculture student Utsala Shrestha
» Third Place: Spray Rig by Agricultural Education student Nathaniel Riley Morton

Grown-up Farming Toys

» First Place: Snow Even Makes Old Tractors Look Good! by CASNR business manager Leann McElhaney
» Second Place: Hay Season by Food Science and Technology student Jackson Shannon
» Third Place: Rating Disease in Corn by Jackson-based Entomology and Plant Pathology research specialist James Jordan IV
» Honorable Mention: Makin’ the Dust Fly! by Bob Hayes, director, West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center

Institute People in Action

» First Place: Mist-Netting by research associate professor Graham Hickling, Center for Wildlife Health
» Second Place: Lizard Searchers by research associate professor Graham Hickling, Center for Wildlife Health
» Third Place: Ag Day at UT by UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences specialist Dena Wise
» Honorable Mention: Julian Plants Marigolds by Plant Sciences research associate John Cummins
» Honorable Mention: Practice Roping for UT Roping Team by UTIA Rodeo Team member and Arts and Science student Kimberly Cardwell
» Honorable Mention: Stanley Buck and David Paulsen Sampling Insects by Entomology and Plant Pathology professor Paris Lambdin

Karismatic Cool Plants

» First Place: Dandelions in Winter by Food Science and Technology student Jackson Shannon
» Second Place: Osteospermum by Plant Sciences lecturer Andy Pulte
» Third Place: Blue Water Lily in North Greenhouse by UT AgResearch greenhouse manager Lori Osburn
» Honorable Mention: Lotus by Sustainable Agriculture student Utsala Shrestha

Karismatic Megafauna

» First Place: Matriarch Versus Pack of Wild Dogs by Animal Science student Rachel Noel O'Rear
» Second Place: Yellow-bellied Marmot in Yellowstone by Environmental Science student Matt Guenther
» Third Place: Fawn by research associate professor Graham Hickling, Center for Wildlife Health
» Honorable Mention: My Beauty in Beastly Weather! by CASNR business manager Leann McElhaney
» Honorable Mention: Snow Cow by Food Science and Technology student Jackson Shannon
» Honorable Mention: Eye to Eye by Animal Science student Taylor Elizabeth Tieche

Most Artistic

» First Place: Dew-covered Web by Animal Science student Taylor Elizabeth Tieche
» Second Place: Potters of Clay by Bob Hayes, director, West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center
» Third Place: Fall Colors by Animal Science student Taylor Elizabeth Tieche
» Honorable Mention: Magnificent Gingko by Bob Hayes, director, West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center
» Honorable Mention: Iron and Wood by UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences specialist Dena Wise

Most Serene

» First Place: Middle Prong Little River by Wildlife and Fisheries Science student Matthew Philip Reed
» Second Place: Fields of Gold by Landscape Design student Andrew Redmon Bogert
» Third Place: Summer Sunrise by Wildlife and Fisheries Management student Jared Keith Chrisp
» Honorable Mention: Serene Scene by Bob Hayes, director, West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center

Places Agriculture Happen

» First Place: Red Barn in Snow by UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences specialist Dena Wise
» Second Place: Perfect Poses by UT Extension Fayette County agent Sherri Morris
» Third Place: Organic Potatoes by Organic Production student Manny Deleon
» Honorable Mention: Dairy Sunset by Food Science and Technology student Jackson Shannon

Putting the 'Wild' in Wildlife

» First Place: Baby Vultures by UT Extension Forestry specialist David Mercker
» Second Place: Goldfinches by Veterinary Medical Center senior veterinary technician Dorothy Sharp
» Third Place: Following Dad by CVM Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences associate professor Melissa Kennedy
» Honorable Mention: Snow Day by UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences specialist Dena Wise

Research in Progress

» First Place: Food Spoilage Molds by Food Science and Technology post-doctoral research associate Koi Techathuvanan
» Second Place: Basil Growing in Ebb and Flood Hydroponics LED Test by Plant Sciences research associate John Cummins
» Third Place: Ectoparasitism of South African Tortoises by Animal Science student Rachel Noel O’Rear
» Honorable Mention: Inside a Pumpkin Flower by Entomology and Plant Pathology associate professor Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes

Teaching and Learning Inside/Outside Classroom

» First Place: They Come to Learn by Bob Hayes, director, West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center
» Second Place: Bird Banding by Wildife and Fisheries Management student Jared Keith Chrisp
» Third Place: Teachers with Biltmores by UT Extension forestry specialist David Mercker
» Honorable Mention: Community Garden by Plant Sciences lecturer Andrew Pulte
» Honorable Mention: Waiting for the Big Girls to Jump by UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences specialist Dena Wise

Veterinarians Vetting

» First Place: First Surgery by Veterinary Medicine student Brinn Claire Granger

Vols (animals, people, places or things that spell Vols)

» First Place: Go VOLS by Sustainable Agriculture student Utsala Shrestha

Dr. Mercker Teaches Forestry