North Dakota Living was once again amazed by the photo entries for the second annual photo contest! There were 600 entries, double last year’s amount.
From North Dakota skies to North Dakota people and more, the photos captured North Dakota in all its beauty. The judges remarked how difficult it was to choose the winners.
Thank you to everyone who participated, and congratulations to the winners of the 2026 North Dakota Living Photo Contest!
“Grandpa’s Favorite Copilots”
Carol Knorr
Verendrye Electric Cooperative and McLean Electric Cooperative
Carol Knorr’s grand-prize winning photo is of her two granddaughters, Emerson and Kendyl, waving across the wheat field to their grandpa. Grandpa Mark Knorr, a second-generation farmer who has been farming since he was about 7, is on his way to get the two for a combine ride. Carol’s father loved photography, passing on the love to her. She especially loves capturing family moments.
Category Winner
“The Ranching Life”
Tim Zeltinger
In this photo, rancher Rod “Pick” Stevens brands a calf on a ranch served by Verendrye Electric Cooperative northeast of Glenburn. Tim Zeltinger took this photo on a nine-hour day spent branding and vaccinating cattle, showing a glimpse of life on the ranch.
Category Winner
“A Foggy Spring Aurora Over New Johns Lake”
Hannah Cobert
Capital Electric Cooperative
Hannah Cobert took this photo on a peaceful, misty night at New Johns Lake in North Dakota. Cobert is a “northern lights chaser” and came to this spot at 2 a.m. to photograph the aurora borealis. The northern lights were starting to break due to fog, so she wasn’t sure she would get the shot. Cobert was a NASA contractor and enjoys astrophotography, the northern lights and landscapes.
Category Winner
“Praying”
Tim Zeltinger
Tim Zeltinger captured this photo of Jason Morsette at the Earth Lodge Village in New Town. Morsette, the special projects manager for the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation, teaches about the rich culture and history of the MHA people. Zeltinger captured this photo of Morsette with his fingertips outstretched, kneeling next to a wood fire in an earth lodge. Zeltinger, a photographer, hopes his images bear his sight to others, conveying moments, history and meaning.
Honorable Mention
“Threshing Crew”
Mark Fox
Honorable Mention
“Foggy fall morning in western North Dakota”
William Boyeff
Honorable Mention
“Cowboy Kiddo”
Glen Gross
