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Providing a unified voice to promote and enhance the quality of rural health in North Dakota

"What Rural Means" Photo Contest

Show Us What Rural Means to You!

In celebration of National Rural Health Day, the North Dakota Rural Health Association (NDRHA) invites you to capture and share what rural means to you.

Rural North Dakota is more than a place – it's the people, communities, landscapes, traditions, livelihoods, and everyday moments that make our state special.

Get creative! Snap a photo highlighting a favorite North Dakota pastime, the beauty of your rural community, the people and places that make it home, or anything else that represents "What Rural Means" to you.

Important Details

  • Submission Deadline: November 10, 2026
  • Winners Announced: National Rural Health Day – November 19, 2026
  • Terms of Use: View terms of use
  • Photo Contest FAQs: View FAQs

Prizes

NDRHA will award $350 total in Amazon gift cards to the top three entries:

  • 1st Place – $175 gift card
  • 2nd Place – $100 gift card
  • 3rd Place – $75 gift card

How to Submit

Submit Photo

Official Contest Rules

Theme

The theme of the contest is "What Rural Means."

Photos should creatively represent what rural North Dakota means to the photographer. Examples may include:

  • Rural landscapes and scenery
  • Farms, ranches, and agriculture
  • Small towns and rural communities
  • North Dakota traditions and pastimes
  • Community events
  • Rural health and wellness
  • People who make rural communities special
  • Outdoor recreation
  • Wildlife and nature
  • Everyday rural life
  • Unique places, landmarks, or moments that tell a rural North Dakota story

These are examples only. We encourage entrants to interpret the theme creatively!

North Dakota Requirement

All photographs submitted to the contest must have been taken in North Dakota.

As part of the submission, entrants should identify the general North Dakota location where the photograph was taken (for example, the city, community, county, park, or region).

NDRHA may request additional information to verify that a photograph was taken in North Dakota.

Who May Enter

The contest is open to individuals who submit an eligible photograph in accordance with these Official Rules.

Individuals under 18 may participate with the permission of a parent or legal guardian. A parent or legal guardian must agree to the contest Terms of Use on behalf of a minor entrant.

NDRHA reserves the right to determine eligibility and disqualify entries that do not comply with these rules.

Photo Requirements

Submitted photographs must:

  • Be taken in North Dakota.
  • Be an original photograph taken by the entrant or a photograph for which the entrant owns all necessary rights.
  • Relate to the "What Rural Means" theme.
  • Be appropriate for a general audience.
  • Be submitted by the November 10, 2026 deadline.
  • Be of sufficient quality for digital publication and promotion.

Basic photo adjustments such as cropping and reasonable adjustments to brightness, contrast, exposure, or color are permitted.

Images that are primarily or substantially generated using artificial intelligence are not eligible. NDRHA may request the original image file if necessary to verify an entry.

People Featured in Photographs

Entrants are responsible for obtaining appropriate permission from identifiable individuals appearing in their photographs before submitting the image.

For photographs prominently featuring an identifiable minor, the entrant must have permission from the minor's parent or legal guardian.

Please use particular care when taking photographs in or around healthcare settings. Photos should not reveal private or confidential patient information. Entrants should not photograph patients, medical records, computer screens, identification bands, or other protected or confidential information without all necessary authorization.

NDRHA may request documentation of permission before publishing or awarding a photograph.

Submission Deadline

All entries must be received by November 10, 2026.

Late or incomplete entries may not be considered.

Information to Submit

Entrants should be prepared to provide:

  • First and last name
  • Email address
  • Phone number, if requested for winner notification
  • Photo title
  • General location in North Dakota where the photo was taken
  • A brief description of the photo and/or how it represents "What Rural Means"
  • The photograph
  • Confirmation that the entrant has read and agrees to the Official Rules and Terms of Use
  • Parent/legal guardian information and consent, if applicable photographer is a minor

Judging

Eligible entries will be reviewed and voted on by the NDRHA communications committee and board of directors.

Judging is subjective, and all judging decisions are final.

Winner Notification

The first-, second-, and third-place winners are expected to be announced on National Rural Health Day, November 19, 2026.

NDRHA may contact winners using the information provided with their submission. Winners may be required to verify eligibility, ownership of the photograph, permissions, and/or acceptance of these Official Rules before receiving a prize.

If a selected winner cannot be contacted, does not respond within the timeframe provided by NDRHA, or is determined to be ineligible, NDRHA may select an alternate winner.