By Betsy Knox

Not able to travel as much this fall and winter as you’d like? You can visit Curwood Castle in Owosso, the Fox Theater in Detroit or the Pokagon Methodist Episcopal Church (also known as the “Old Rugged Cross Church”) in Niles, all without leaving your Internet-connected home or local library. This travel interlude is brought to you by the winners of the 2004 Michigan Week Youth Photo Contest.

Photography and history enthusiasts aged 9 to 19 from 21 Michigan counties participated in the 2004 contest. Twelve photos were selected to be part of a yearlong traveling photography exhibit, and 16 were chosen as runner-ups. All 28 winning photos can be found on the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL) Web site at http://www.michigan.gov/hal. (At the site, click on “Michigan Week,” then on “Michigan Week Youth Photo Contest Winners.”)

After you’ve seen the winning photos, encourage the shutter bugs and history buffs in your club or community – whether they’re involved in 4-H or not – to submit a photo for the 2005 Michigan Week Youth Photo Contest. Applications are on the HAL Web site. The entry deadline is February 1, 2005; young people may submit up to two entries.

The Michigan Week Youth Photo Contest is coordinated by Michigan 4-H Youth Development and the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries with financial support from donations made to the Michigan 4-H Foundation and the Michigan Barn Preservation Network. To find out how to donate to this project or to host the 2004 exhibit in your community, contact your county MSU Extension office.

Betsy Knox is the 4-H program leader for visual arts.