A veteran of local 4-H programs, Mekenzie McCann was both the junior champion and the grand champion winner of the 4-H Camp Photo Contest at this year's Harford County Farm Fair.
Mekenzie is a 10-year-old student at North Harford Elementary School and a member of the Blue Ribbon 4-H Club. She has been in 4-H for five years and has completed projects in photography, horticulture, foods, fashion revue and crafts.
Mekenzie took extreme care in posing her subject at the camp to represent the tribal team and competitions that occur during 4-H camps. She has attended 4-H camp for two years.
"I like to have fun and there are great activities all week long that do not stop," Mekenzie said.
The 4-H Camp Photo Contest is sponsored by Harford County 4-H Clubs Inc., the operator of the Harford County 4-H Camp and Deer Creek Overlook.
MeKenzie's still life photo was chosen by a team of judges at the 4-H indoor exhibit building at the 2016 Harford County Farm Fair in late July.
She chose the traditional O'Chief's headdress and staff, with a camp T-shirt on a large boulder at the camp as the subject of her photo. The sun shining on the rock and the feathers accented the colorful camp T-shirt. The title of her photo is "Camp of the Loving Heart O'Chief!"
The judges considered the quality of the photo, the depiction of the camp and/or the camp's purpose, the appropriateness for use by the camp and the pleasure provided to the general public for all contest entries, according to Harford County 4-H Clubs, Inc.
The judges also chose photos submitted by Joey Burgess, who was named senior champion, and by Hannah Burgess, who was named intermediate champion in this contest.
The Harford County 4-H Camp is the oldest 4-H camp in Maryland and has had a continuous program for 92 years at this camp facility adjacent to Rocks State Park. It is also one of the oldest 4-H camps in the nation.
The contest is sponsored by the camp to prepare for the upcoming 100th camp in 2024.
The camp is known for its contributions to bettering the lives of local young people and the community since 1925. Residents are urged to support the 4-H camp at the Rocks through volunteering, monetary contributions or scheduling an event at one of the camp's unique or rustic facilities.