Submitted by Debby Walters, Botany Belles & Beaus Garden Club
BALDWIN, WI – Baldwin’s 2025 Chili Fest was blessed with beautiful weather, delicious chili, good music, a variety of activities and 150 BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS displayed at the Botany Belles & Beaus Garden Club’s Nature Photography Contest. This contest is open to amateur photographers and youth age 16 and under. In this 10th year of the contest, 50 photographers submitted entries in six categories. Sponsored by the Botany Belles & Beaus Garden Club, members arrange the display, set up the booth and enjoyed visiting with Chili Fest attendees and encouraging them to vote for their favorites. The discussions that people have as they decide on their favorite photograph indicate how serious people take their responsibility to help choose a winner. With so many lovely entries it is a tough decision.
The contest wouldn’t be possible without talented photographers submitting photos and the over 300 Chili Fest attendees who took time to examine the photos and vote. Colton DesLauriers’ photo “Relaxing Sunset” received the most votes of any in the contest. Colton is one of the youth participants. Each year the number of youth entries increases, and we hope this trend continues. The top photographer in each category receives Chamber Bucks.
If you viewed the contest this year and thought about the photos on your phone or camera, realize that the categories tend to be the same each year. Consider entering your pictures next year.
Here are the six photo categories in the Botany Belles & Beaus Garden Club Nature Photography Contest and the First, Second and Third Place winners in each category:
BIRDS, BUGS, BEASTS: 1st – Mary Roen: Mine, Mine, Mine! 2nd – Dawn DeSmith: Hopping Through Life. And a tie for 3rd – Mike Bade: Whale Tail, and 3rd – Betty Most: Indigo Bunting in Sunflowers.
FALL COLORS: 1st – Nue Vang Ford: Fall Egg Combo. 2nd – Sheri Erickson: Fall at the Falls. Another tie for 3rd – Terry Mohn: Fall Brilliance and 3rd – Nicole Oosten: Pattison State Park.
LANDSCAPE: 1st – Sheri Erickson: An Echo at the Dells. 2nd – Terry Mohn: This is Alaska. 3rd – Terry Thompson: Waterfall through the Bridge.
PLANT PORTRAITS: 1st – Brooke Gordon: Nature’s Masterpiece. 2nd – Sheryl Buechter: Dahlia. 3rd – Nicole Oosten: Oma’s Flower.
SUNRISE/SUNSET: 1st – Amy Boldt: Tunnel of Light. 2nd – Sheri Erickson: Sunset Splash. 3rd – Brooke Gordon: Golden Hour on Superior.
YOUTH: 1st – Colton DesLauriers (15): Relaxing Sunset. 2nd – Oliver Johnson (11): TOADstool. And another tie for 3rd – Johanna LaVelle (12): Sunset over Mt. Fuji, and 3rd – Seraphina Tolbert (13): Bull in the Fall.
