Show Us Bates County: 2026 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Bates County Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Show Us Bates County Community Photo Contest, a community photography project created to celebrate the beauty and character of Bates County through the eyes of those who call it home.
The response exceeded expectations, with more than 70 photographs submitted by photographers of all ages and experience levels. Following a review of 63 eligible entries, our judging panel selected the following winners:
First Place: Braylee Haddix
Photo Location: Gravel road off O Highway in Bates County, near Pleasant Gap Christian Church
Braylee Haddix’s winning photograph captures an ordinary Bates County scene in an unexpectedly joyful moment. The photograph shows a gravel road off O Highway near Pleasant Gap Christian Church, but the sharply captured splash in a puddle transforms the otherwise quiet scene.
Braylee explained in her submission, “I was taking pictures and my little brother threw a rock in a puddle and I captured it by accident.”
That joyful happenstance captivated the judging panel. The familiar gravel road could be almost anywhere in Bates County, while the splash almost looks like a sailboat or a mermaid’s fin, adding movement and a playful element to the scene.
Braylee is the daughter of Heather Haddix, a registered nurse who works in BCMH’s Cardiac Rehabilitation department.
Second Place: Sarah Miller
Photo Location: Bates County Courthouse in Butler
Third Place: Ashlee Decker
Photo Location: County Road 1056, Butler
Honorable Mention: Tommi Decker
Photo Location: B Highway Bridge, near Rich Hill
Honorable Mention: Doneda Swenson
“Morning Snack”
Photo Location: Johnstown, Mo.
The photographs were judged anonymously. Judges considered each photograph’s ability to capture the beauty or character of Bates County, present a compelling or memorable perspective, demonstrate strong composition and visual appeal, and have potential to work as artwork displayed throughout the hospital and its clinics.
“This photo contest was very important to our board of directors and hospital leaders,” said Andrea Jackson, Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator and organizer of the photo contest. “We hoped it would help us see the beauty of our community with new eyes, while bringing people together to celebrate this wonderful place we call home. The response was beyond what we expected, and we’re so impressed by the different perspectives shared by these photographers. We look forward to sharing more of the collection in the future, both online and displayed throughout our hospital and clinics.”
The winning photographs and honorable mentions will be featured individually by Bates County Memorial Hospital over the coming weeks, with additional information about the photographers and the stories behind their photographs.
And the contest isn’t over yet! During the BCMH Health Fair on October 6, a selection of photographs from the Show Us Bates County collection will be displayed, giving community members an opportunity to view the photographs and vote for the People’s Choice Award. The five photographs receiving judges’ awards will not be included in the People’s Choice vote, giving another participating photographer the opportunity to receive community recognition.
Watch BCMH’s social media channels for more details about the People’s Choice voting and featured photographs in the weeks leading up to the Health Fair.
Following the Health Fair, BCMH plans to share the broader community photo collection and continue incorporating selected photographs into displays throughout the hospital and its clinics.
Thank you to everyone who shared a view of the place we call home. We look forward to sharing more of Bates County with our community.
