Eligibility

• The contest is open to amateur and professional artists of all ages.
• Entries must depict sorghum-related themes, including production, research, food, or sorghum's role in global agriculture.
• Employees and/or volunteers of the conference and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate.
• Contestants must verify that the art was created within the past two years.

Age Categories

Participants must provide proof of age upon request to verify the correct age group category. Acceptable documents include a birth certificate, driver's license, or passport.

• Youth (12 and under)
• Teen (13 - 17)
• College (18 - 24)
• Adult (25 - 60)
• Senior (60 and above)

Art Categories

• Photography
• Two-Dimensional Art (painting, drawing, graphic design, digital print publications)
• Three-Dimensional Art (sculpture, ceramics, installations, mixed media, specialty)

Art Themes

• Sorghum Production
  • Sorghum in any stage of the production process, such as planting, growth, harvesting, processing, transportation, etc.
  • Producers using drones or other precision agriculture tools to monitor and manage their crops.
  • Secondary uses of sorghum such as dairy silage, green chop, hay, and pasture.
  • Region specific production practices showcasing sorghum production around the country/world.
• Research and Innovation
  • Scientists conducting experiments on sorghum genetics or developing drought-resistant varieties in laboratory settings.
  • Researchers in the field monitoring experimental sorghum crops to study pest resistance or yield improvements.
  • Producers using innovative machinery or software tools for irrigation, planting, or yield prediction.
• Communities, Culture and Cuisine
  • Community members/producers selling sorghum products at local markets, sorghum food products, floral arrangements, and/or arts & crafts featuring sorghum as a main component.
  • Cultural festivals or events where sorghum is featured, including traditional dances, storytelling, or performances.
  • (Note: Food item-related art must imply direct use of sorghum products. A food item piece with no obvious visual ties to sorghum (i.e., painting of pancakes made with sorghum flour with sorghum syrup on top) should incorporate sorghum stems, grain, and/or foliage somewhere within the piece. Pieces depicting food items with no obvious visual tie to sorghum will not be considered.)

Awards

• Best of Show: For the best entry across all medium, age and art theme categories.
• Grand Prize: For the best entry across art themes in each medium category. Two runner-up pieces will be selected and awarded as contest organizers see fit.
• Art Theme Winners: For the best entry within each art theme, per medium category. Two runner-up pieces will be selected and awarded as contest organizers see fit.
• Age Group Winners: For the best entry within each age group, per medium category. Two runner-up pieces will be selected and awarded as contest organizers see fit.
• People’s Choice: This category is voted on by conference attendees, separate from the judges' selections. The People's Choice Award goes to the piece that obtains the most votes during the conference. It will consist of all other category winners that will be displayed during the conference. Runner-up winners will not be eligible for public voting.
• The winning piece in each category will be displayed at the 2026 Global Sorghum Conference.
• Overall Impression: This considers the photo as a whole, considering the combination of creativity, technical skills, theme relevance, and emotional engagement. The overall effect should leave a lasting impact on the viewer.

Submission Deadline

All entries must be received by 11:59 PM CST May 31, 2026 (what time is that for me?).

Notification of Winners

Winners will be notified via email within 30 days of the contest closing date.

Dispute Resolution

In the event of any dispute regarding the contest, the decision of the contest organizers will be final.

The contest is governed by the laws of the jurisdiction where the contest is held.

General Conditions

The contest organizers reserve the right to cancel, terminate, or modify the contest at any time without notice if it is determined that the contest cannot be conducted as planned for any reason beyond their control.

By entering, participants agree to abide by the official rules and accept the judges' decisions as final.

The governing bodies of the Global Sorghum Conference retain the right to use any of the photos submitted in the Global Sorghum Conference Photography & Art Contest for publishing in future print and/or online publications.

Submission Guidelines

Entry Limits

Each contestant is allowed to submit a maximum of three photographs. Participants may enter one photo per category.

Copyright and Usage

All photos must be original work by the photographer and should not have been previously published or used for commercial purposes. By entering, participants confirm that they have full rights to the submitted work and that the photo does not violate any copyright or intellectual property laws. No third-party content (such as stock images) is permitted. Artists retain partial copyright of their work. By entering, participants grant the contest organizers exclusive rights to display and promote their art in relation to the contest, both online and in physical exhibitions. The work may also be utilized by National Sorghum Producers and or Texas Tech University Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources for promotional and decorative purposes. The artist will be notified if the photo will be used for such purposes.

Consent and Releases

For photos featuring recognizable individuals, the photographer must obtain a model release signed by the person(s) depicted. If the subject is a minor, a release signed by a parent or guardian is required.

The photographer must be prepared to provide these releases upon request by the contest organizers

Format

Photos must be submitted in JPEG or PNG format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi, and the image's longest side should be at least 2000 pixels. Each photo's file size should not exceed 10 MB. To ensure accurate color display, it is recommended that photos be submitted in the sRGB color profile.

Each submission must include metadata (EXIF data) with shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and focal length.

The date and location of the photo must also be provided.

Submission Process

• Online Submission: Participants should submit their entries through the conference's official website.
• Email Submission: contestemail@domain.com with subject line "2026 GSC Photography Contest Entry." Click Here to start the process.
• File Naming Format: Category_AgeGroup_FirstNameLastName_PhotoTitle (e.g., SorghumProduction_Adult_JaneDoe_FallHarvest.jpg)

Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged by a panel of art professionals, sorghum industry experts, and/or conference representatives. The following criteria will be used to evaluate submissions:

• Creativity and Originality: Judges will look for unique perspectives or approaches to photographing sorghum. Photos should offer a fresh take on familiar subjects or present an innovative viewpoint that stands out from the rest.
• Technical Excellence: Includes sharpness, focus, correct exposure, and effective composition. Judges will assess how well the photographer has mastered lighting, clarity, and framing to create a visually appealing image.
• Adherence to Theme: The photo must clearly relate to the contest's theme, such as showcasing sorghum in agriculture, innovation, or culture. Entries that deviate from the theme will lose points.
• Emotional Impact: Judges will evaluate how well the image evokes an emotional response from the viewer, whether it’s awe, inspiration, or curiosity. The photo should engage the viewer on a personal level.

Submission Guidelines

Entry Limits

Each participant may submit a maximum of four pieces of artwork, which can be in one theme category or across multiple theme categories.

Copyright and Usage

All artwork must be original and unpublished.

By entering, participants confirm they hold full rights to their work and that the art does not violate any copyright or intellectual property laws.

Artists retain full copyright of their work. By entering, participants grant the contest organizers non-exclusive rights to display and promote their art in relation to the contest, both online and in physical exhibitions.

Format

Photos of the original art piece submission must be submitted in JPEG or PNG format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi, and the longest side of the image should be at least 2000 pixels. Each file size should not exceed 10 MB. To ensure accurate color display, it is recommended that images be submitted in the sRGB color profile.

Submission Process

• Online Submission: Participants should submit their entries through the conference's official website.
• Email Submission: contestemail@domain.com with subject line "2026 GSC 2D Art Contest Entry." Click Here to start the process.
• File Naming Format: Medium_Category_AgeGroup_FirstNameLastName_ArtTitle (e.g., Paint_SorghumProduction_Adult_JaneDoe_SorghumSunset.jpg).

Medium Categories

Participants may submit artwork in the following 2D mediums:

• Painting: Oils, watercolors, acrylic, etc.
• Drawing: Pencil, colored pencils, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal
• Graphic Design: Non-animated digital art such as posters, infographics, stylized digital illustrations, and branding and packaging concepts, and in a computer-generated program such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Canva, etc.
• Digital Print Publications: Magazine or newsletter spreads designed in a computer-generated program, such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Canva, etc., for online publication, featuring articles and/or visual content about sorghum. These could include layout design, typography, and images combined to create a visually compelling story about sorghum’s agricultural or cultural significance. Submissions containing written materials will be based solely on visual components. While participants are welcome to write sorghum-related pieces, the use of placeholder text is permitted. Participants in this category only are allowed to use stock images or images taken by another individual with proper acknowledgment.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged by a panel of art professionals, sorghum industry experts, and/or conference representatives. The following criteria will be used to evaluate submissions:

• Creativity and Originality: Judges will look for inventive approaches and fresh perspectives on sorghum-related themes.
• Technical Skill: Mastering the chosen medium, composition, and visual impact.
• Adherence to Theme: The artwork must directly relate to sorghum, whether through agriculture, innovation, or cultural significance.
• Emotional Impact: The ability of the piece to engage viewers on a personal or emotional level.
• Overall Impression: A holistic evaluation of creativity, skill, theme relevance, and visual impact.

Submission Guidelines

Entry Limits

Each participant may submit only one 3D art piece.

Copyright and Usage

All artwork must be original and unpublished.

By entering, participants confirm they hold full rights to their work and that the art does not violate any copyright or intellectual property laws.

Artists retain full copyright of their work. By entering, participants grant the contest organizers non-exclusive rights to display and promote their art in relation to the contest, both online and in physical exhibitions.

Format

Art pieces must be submitted as photographs (3 to 5 images) showcasing different angles of the work (JPEG or PNG format, 300 dpi, minimum of 2000 pixels on the longest side). The photos should be under 10 MB each. Contestants may also submit a 1 minute video of the pieces as an alternative to images.

Submission Process

• Online Submission: Participants should submit their entries through the conference's official website.
• Email Submission: contestemail@domain.com with subject line "2026 GSC 3D Art Contest Entry." Click Here to start the process.
• File Naming Format: Category_AgeGroup_FirstNameLastName_PhotoTitle (e.g., SorghumProduction_Adult_JaneDoe_FallHarvest.jpg)

Medium Categories

Participants may submit artwork in the following 3D mediums:

• Sculpture: Including but not limited to metal, wood, clay, or mixed media.
• Ceramics: Pottery or ceramic works featuring sorghum-related themes.
• Installations: Physical installations that convey the importance of sorghum in any context (agriculture, culture, etc.).
• Mixed Media: 3D pieces combining various materials or techniques (e.g., collage, assemblage) to represent sorghum.
• Specialty: 3D pieces made of at least 80% natural sorghum. Participants may use any part of the sorghum plant so long as it is easily identifiable, such as foliage, grain, husks, and stems. Examples of specialty pieces include mosaics made of sorghum, floral arrangements, baskets woven from dried sorghum husks/stalks, and pottery/resin pieces inlaid with sorghum materials.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged by a panel of art professionals, sorghum industry experts, and/or conference representatives. The following criteria will be used to evaluate submissions:

• Creativity and Originality: Judges will look for inventive approaches and fresh perspectives on sorghum-related themes.
• Technical Skill: Mastering the chosen medium, composition, and visual impact.
• Adherence to Theme: The artwork must directly relate to sorghum, whether through agriculture, innovation, or cultural significance.
• Emotional Impact: The ability of the piece to engage viewers on a personal or emotional level.
• Overall Impression: A holistic evaluation of creativity, skill, theme relevance, and visual impact.