Winner of 2010 Mingo Swamp Friends Photo Contest

Pictured is Vergial Harp, Mingo Park Ranger, Chris Barrigar, of Bloomfield, Best of Show Winner; Ben Mense, Park Manager and Aaron Horrell, co-chairman of the contest.

Chris Barrigar of Bloomfield, MO was chosen as the Best of Show Winner of the 2010 Mingo Photo Contest; his photo, "Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks on Monopoly Marsh" was taken early one morning while canoeing through Monopoly Marsh.The Whistling Ducks are considered a rare find in Southeast Missouri. Mark Pelton of Poplar Bluff was the alternate Best of Show Winner with a landscape entitled " Foggy Fall Color". There were 265 entries in the contest, which is a record number since the contest began five years ago. The contest is divided into two divisions- youth and adult- with the categories of Mingo Landscape, Native Wildlife, Native Plant, Artistically Enhanced and People in Nature. There is also a single category for Professional photographers which must center around the categories listed above. The deadline for the contest is July 1st of each year and is sponsored by Drury Southwest and the River Hills Traveler. For more information about the contest, please contact Mingo Wildlife Refuge.