The Rural Kansas Photography Contest (“Photo Contest”) seeks captivating digital images showcasing life in Kansas. It aims to collaborate with photographers (“Photographer/s”), both amateur and professional, to create a collection promoting Kansas as an ideal destination for health care providers to live, work, and play.

The Rural Kansas Photography Contest is coordinated by The University of Kansas Medical Center (“University”), Rural Health Education and Services (“RHES”), 1010 N. Kansas, Ste. 3026, Wichita, KS 67214, 316.293.2649, rhealth@kumc.edu.

2026 Contest Dates

• Entries Accepted: Monday, September 21–Sunday, October 25, 2026.
• Finalists Announced: Friday, November 13, 2026
• Online Voting: Wednesday, November 18 and Thursday, November 19, 2026
• Winners Announced: Monday, November 23, 2026

Eligibility

• Photographers must be at least 18 years of age to participate in the general contest.
• Youth ages 13–17 may participate in the Youth Division and will be judged separately.
• Photographs must be taken within the state of Kansas.
• Photographs may be taken at any time.

Submission Requirements

• Photographs submitted must be taken by Photographer and be their own personal property and creation.
• Photographs must be submitted as high-resolution .jpg/.jpeg files.
• An online entry from must accompany the Photograph submission/s. Entries with incomplete or inaccurate information will not be considered.
• Photographs containing watermarks, logos, or trademarks will not be accepted.

Image Authenticity and Editing Restrictions

Photographs must accurately represent the scene as it appeared.

Permitted edits (minimal only):

• Cropping
• Dust spot removal
• Minor adjustments to exposure, color, and contrast

The following are NOT permitted and will result in disqualification:

• Heavy retouching or manipulation
• Adding, removing, or altering elements within the image
• Composite images or photo stacking
• Use of stylized filters, presets, or effects that significantly alter the natural appearance
• Over-processing that results in an unrealistic or artificial image

Submissions that appear excessively edited or inconsistent with the spirit of authentic photography may be disqualified at the sole discretion of the contest organizers.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Photographs generated in whole or in part using artificial intelligence (AI) are not permitted.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• AI-generated images
• AI-assisted compositing or image creation
• Generative fill or tools that introduce new visual elements

Any submission found to include AI-generated or AI-altered content will be disqualified at the sole discretion of the contest organizers.

Model Releases & Content Responsibility

• If identifiable individuals appear in a photograph, the Photographer is solely responsible for obtaining appropriate model releases and must provide them upon request.
• The Photographer represents and warrants that each submitted photograph:
  • Is their original work
  • Does not infringe upon any third-party rights, including copyright, trademark, privacy, or publicity rights

Photographer Rights & Usage

• Photographers retain full copyright of all submitted images.
• By entering the contest, the Photographer grants the University of Kansas, including its Rural Health Education and Services (RHES) program, and the Kansas Board of Regents (“KBOR”), a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, publish, display, and distribute the photographs for non-commercial purposes.

Non-commercial use includes, but is not limited to:

• Promotional, educational, scholarly, and outreach efforts
• Print and digital materials (websites, brochures, newsletters, magazines, calendars, etc.)
• Social media platforms
• Displays, presentations, and promotional materials
• Media and partner publications, including Kansas Country Living magazine

The University may make minor formatting edits (such as cropping or resizing) while preserving the integrity of the original image.

• The Photographer’s name, city, and state may be used in connection with the image.
• Reasonable efforts will be made to provide credit as:
  © [Photographer’s Name]
  However, the University is not liable for inadvertent omissions of credit.
• No additional compensation will be provided for uses outlined in this agreement.
• By entering, Photographers agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the University of Kansas, RHES, KBOR, and their respective employees, agents, and representatives from and against any claims, damages, liabilities, costs, or expenses arising from:
  • Use of submitted photographs
  • Breach of these rules
  • Violation of any third-party rights

Contest Administration

• The University is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, or incomplete entries, or for technical, hardware, software, or network errors of any kind.
• By entering, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by all decisions of the contest organizers and judges, which are final and binding.
• Contest organizers reserve the right to request original, unedited image files (e.g., RAW files) to verify compliance.
• The University reserves the right to disqualify any entry that:
  • Does not comply with these rules
  • Is deemed inappropriate or inconsistent with the mission or spirit of the contest

Judging & Finalist Selection

• Photographs will be judged on:
  • Originality
  • Technical excellence
  • Composition
  • Overall impact
  • Artistic merit
• A judging panel will select 5–7 finalists per category.
• Youth Division entries will be judged separately within their division.
• All judging decisions are final.

Voting

• Winners will be determined by public vote unless otherwise specified.
• Individuals may request an electronic voting link (one vote per person) by visiting: http://bit.ly/ksphotovote
• Contest organizers reserve the right to monitor voting activity and disqualify votes suspected of duplication, fraud, or automated submission.
• In the event of a tie, the judging panel will determine the winner.

Announcement of Winners

• Winners will be announced on Monday, November 23, 2026.
• Contest organizers reserve the right to modify timelines at their discretion.
• All decisions are final and binding.

Publication & Recognition

• Winning photographs may be featured in University communications at the University’s discretion.
• The Kansas Country Living editorial staff will select a Grand Prize winner from all entries.
  • The Grand Prize winner will be notified in December
  • The winning photograph will be featured on the cover of the January issue
  • Additional photographs may be selected for publication
• Selection for publication is independent of contest judging.

Beauty in Kansas Wall Calendar

• Photographers will have the option to opt in to allow their submitted Photograph(s) to be considered for inclusion in the 2027 Beauty in Kansas wall calendar.
• Images selected for the calendar are chosen separately from the Contest and selection does not influence contest judging or awards.
• The Beauty in Kansas calendar is sold to the public, and all proceeds are used to support future Rural Kansas Photography Contests, including expenses, outreach, and prizes.
• Photographers whose images are selected for the calendar will be notified prior to production and will receive one complimentary calendar.
• By opting in, the Photographer grants the University, RHES, and KBOR a non‑exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, royalty‑free license to reproduce the selected image(s) specifically for the creation, promotion, and sale of the Beauty in Kansas calendar.
• No additional compensation will be provided for calendar participation beyond the complimentary calendar.
• Calendar selection is at the sole discretion of the contest organizers and does not guarantee publication.

Prizes

• A first- and second-place winner will be awarded in each category.
  • First place: $100
  • Second place: $50
• Winners are responsible for completing any required tax documentation, including a Form W-9, prior to the distribution of prize funds. Failure to provide required documentation in a timely manner may result in forfeiture of the prize at the discretion of the contest organizers.

Grand Prize – Kansas Country Living

• One Grand Prize winner will be selected from all eligible entries by the editorial staff of Kansas Country Living.
• The Grand Prize includes:
  • $100 cash prize
  • Feature on the cover of the January issue of Kansas Country Living magazine
• All entries are automatically eligible for Grand Prize consideration. Selection of the Grand Prize winner is independent of category awards and judging results.
• Additional photographs may be selected for publication within Kansas Country Living Selection for publication does not guarantee additional compensation.
• Contest organizers are proud to partner with Kansas Country Living, a long‑standing publication of Kansas electric cooperatives that informs and celebrates rural Kansas with energy insights, safety information, and stories reaching more than 138,000 readers.

For more information

Contact Rural Health Education and Services

316-293-2649

rhealth@kumc.edu

The University of Kansas does not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, or educational activity.