Take a shot at winning a pair of
Green Bay Packers Tickets!
THE PEACEFUL winter scene at right was photographed by Michael Sprecher of Baraboo. He’d noticed St. Luke Catholic Church in the Sauk County village of Plain after a snowstorm and caught a few photos. It was fortunate he did!
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When Michael heard about Our Wisconsin’s Reader Photo Contest, seeking pictures that showcase the beauty of our state—and highlight the fun enjoyed by its people—he took a chance and sent a picture in.
The magazine readers voted his photo best in our Scenery category, awarding him a prize of dinner for two at his favorite restaurant. Then in a subsequent vote, readers named his shot the best of the finalists in four categories. That made him our 2025 Grand Prize winner! Next season, he’s bound for Lambeau Field, with a pair of tickets for a regular season game. Congratulations, Michael!
NOW, if you can handle a camera, would like to compete for cool prizes like these, and see your photo printed in a glossy magazine, here’s how to enter our 2026 Reader Photo Contest.
The four categories this time are:
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Wisconsin People. This category is for photos of Wisconsinites of all ages, just being themselves or engaged in activities that show them having fun and proving why life here can be so rewarding. We’re looking for photos in all seasons.
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Four Seasons of Scenery. In a state as pretty as this one, there are ample opportunities to catch photos showcasing the natural beauty here, much like our Grand Prize winner did (in the photo above right). We’re looking for landscape views that capture our state’s scenic beauty in every season—spring, summer, fall and winter.
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Wisconsin Wildlife & Pets. If your dog, cat or other pet is a real character and you’ve captured a photo that lets your pet’s lovable or laughable behavior shine through, share the image. In this category we’re also looking for wildlife that wows with maybe an unexpected species in your backyard or an impressive look at one out in a field, nature center or park.
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Winter Fun with Kids. They’re well-represented in family photos and albums, and with good reason. Kids are active, energetic, endearing and even a tad mischievous. We’re looking for captured moments of little ones enjoying the great outdoors. Here’s one category where we hope you’ll make us smile or laugh as youngsters make the most of winter in Wisconsin.
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Our staff will evaluate these entries and determine six finalists in each category. Then we’ll print the category finalists—one in each issue—and ask readers to vote for their favorite. The prize for the photo that draws the most votes in each of the four categories is dinner for two at the restaurant of the entrant’s choice, up to $100 value.
Latest Grand Prize Winner
SETTING THE SCENE. “I captured this picture of St. Luke Catholic Church and its wintry surroundings in Plain af-ter a snowstorm,” writes Michael Sprecher from Baraboo. “Plain is like a Bavarian village located in Wisconsin. On this day the scenery matched that description perfectly.”
Official Contest Rules
You can enter prints, but digital photos are preferred. If you’re submitting digital photos, you must have high-resolution copies of each image. Due to our demanding printing standards, we can’t use low-resolution photos. Generally, we need a photo file 1 megabyte or larger.
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To email a photo, attach only one image per message and make sure you’re sending your photos at the highest resolution, 1 MB or larger.
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Include your name, mailing address and phone number for each photo submitted, plus the category in which you want the photo entered. Also include pertinent details for a caption: where the photo was taken, who’s in it, their community of residence and relationship to you, and why this photo is meaningful to you.
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This contest is open to anyone. You needn’t be a subscriber; no purchase is necessary. But you may enter no more than eight photos. Sorry, but any photo prints mailed to us can’t be returned, so be sure to retain copies.
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After the judging is complete, your photo may be considered to appear elsewhere in the magazine, such as in our pages called Window on Wisconsin, so even if you don’t win the contest, you may still “get published”.
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If we print your photo in this way, you’ll receive our signature treat—an Amish pecan pie, freshly baked and delivered right to your door.
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Email entries to: editors@OurWisconsinMag.com; put “Photo Contest” and the category name in the subject line. Or mail prints to: Photo Contest, Our Wisconsin, 5301 Townline Road, Suite 4, Manitowish Waters WI 54545. Deadline: June 1, 2026. Good Luck!
After the four category winners have been named, we’ll ask readers to vote again, this time to determine the Grand Prize winner. If your photo is that top winner, you’ll be Green Bay bound for a Packers game.
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The deadline to enter your photos is June 1, 2026, so now’s the
time to start perusing your files. We can’t wait to see what you
come up with!
2025 Category Winners
BUCKY, IS THAT YOU? Dale Schaffner of Fountain City was driving in the hills and valleys of the town of Cross when he discovered a badger. “It’s one of the few times I’ve seen this elusive creature,” he says. “Many Wisconsin-ites have never seen one. I was honored to get a photo.”
BLUE-RIBBON WORTHY. “This little girl was so excited and proud to show her prized goat at the Polk County Fair in St. Croix Falls in the summer of 2024,” says Corinne Jacobson of Frederic. “Her enthusiasm was contagious!”
A DRINK FOR TWO. “Our 18-month-old granddaughter, Evelyn Valaskey, and her pup Dougie take a sip from the spigot at their Neenah home for the first time,” recalls Lori Baldauf of Neenah. “I just love their posturing as they trust the water flowing from the hose Mom is holding.”