What makes you proud to live in Indiana? That’s the prompt for this year’s Nature and Farm Photo Contest.

Two local land conservation groups sponsor the contest each year. This year, they are challenging kids to enter the contest — and asking kids of all ages to submit photos that “captures the Indiana you cherish — that you want to see flourish and grow, the things worth protecting and stopping to enjoy.”

“We’re especially eager to see more photos from kids and pictures of people spending time in nature,” said Judy Rust, Oak Heritage Conservancy board member.

Rust lives in Greensburg, and often runs into people who enter the contest.

“They always tell me about the photos they enter. We like this contest because everyone can snap a photo. Taking a photo is a way to pause and appreciate the natural world. We hope the contest is a good excuse to go outside and explore.”

This year, the groups leading the contest, Oak Heritage Conservancy and George Rogers Clark Land Trust, have two major updates.

First, they are encouraging more photos of people in nature. They have a category devoted to shots of people hiking, canoeing, bird watching and any action shot of people spending time in nature.

Second, they have launched a “youth” category. Kids 18 and under can enter nature and farm photos.

“We want kids to fall in love with nature. Please tell the children in your life to snap some photos and enter,” Rust said.

Other categories include people in nature; wildflowers and wildlife; forests, creeks, and wetlands; and barns, crops and livestock. All photos must be taken in Indiana.

The group will select about 12 winning photos, and exhibit them around southeast Indiana this winter.

Photos may be submitted online at oakheritageconservancy.org/get-involved/photoexhibit through Oct. 31. Entering is free.

The contest and exhibit are supported by the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The winners will receive a large, mounted print of their photo.

Information: [email protected].