2026 4-H Photo Show
On display May 8–May 31, 2026
Opening Reception Friday, May 8, 2026
5:00 to 7:00 p.m. • Holter Museum of Art
This is a Lewis & Clark County 4-H event—4-H members who are not enrolled in the Photography project may also participate in the Photo Show. This is an exhibition and showcase, and not a judged event. Photo submissions must represent the stated theme and must conform to the technical requirements of display and framing. They must also include caption information submitted to Luke Duran, photography superintendent in advance. See submission details and examples below:
Note: submissions that do not follow the guidelines and submission requirements will not be accepted or displayed.
Requirements to participate in the Photo Show:
- 4-H Photography and non-photography project members may exhibit one image in the Photo Show.
- 4-H photography exhibitors must be in attendance during the Opening Reception on Friday, May 8, 2026, and be available to talk with the public as they walk through the exhibit. The reception will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. This also happens to be the 2026 Helena Spring Art Walk, so many people from the community will visit this show.
- Lewis & Clark County 4-H members who are not enrolled in the 4-H Photography project may also display one photo in the exhibit, provided it is submitted in time, properly formatted and adheres to the theme and subject of this show (details below). A caption must also be emailed to Luke in advance.
2026 Photo Show Theme
“4-H Celebrates Community”
We hope the 4-H Photo Show accomplishes four goals:
- Showcases the work and talent of 4-H photographers
- Honors the sense of communities in Lewis & Clark County, and connects those communities to the 4-H program
- Tells the story of 4-H through 4-H members’ eyes and imagination, and demonstrates the 4-H experiential model of “learn by doing”
- Communicates how 4-H is a beneficial youth organization that helps kids prepare for success
The 2026 Photo Show exhibit will be comprised of images that depict community life in Lewis & Clark County. The images may or may not include a visual tie to 4-H, but it is encouraged.
Photo exhibit details:
- One photo per 4-H member
- Images may be in color or black & white.
- Photo must be presented in a simple black frame with glass and a white matte. NO exceptions.
- Photo must be a minimum size of 8″ x 10,” and no larger than 24″ x 36.” It can be either portrait or landscape orientation.
- Frames MUST include a hanging wire (preferred) or other hook on the back so that Holter staff can easily mount your photo.
- Photo MUST be composed and photographed by the 4-H exhibitor.
- A detailed caption must be emailed to Luke by Sunday, May 3, 2026. See examples below.
- Every photo must include the following information, taped to the back of the frame:
- Your full name
- Your age
- Your 4-H Club
- An email address or phone number where you can be reached
Photo Show theme subject matter:
- Images must depict an element of community life in our county. In general images should include people, since the theme is about community. This can include, but is not limited to:
- people communicating, celebrating, or interacting in a public space
- an image of people in a familiar community space, landmark, or at an event
- an image of a 4-H project, event, or activity within the community (such as a livestock auction scene, a 4-H workshop in a familiar space, 4-H ambassadors or other public outreach event, 4-H’ers speaking at a meeting or on the radio, etc.)
- a scene in a community business, or public space like a library, school, street, neighborhood, theatre, park, museum, etc.
- a scene or image that depicts something unique about Lewis & Clark communities (such as the Sculpture in the Wild park in Lincoln; Helena’s Walking Mall; JFK park in East Helena; Coffee at the Grand Mercantile; fishing Willow Creek Reservoir or visiting the museum in Augusta; hiking or biking Mount Helena; visiting Montana Wild, the Capitol, or the Montana Heritage Center). Please use your imagination and creativity to capture a great scene!
Caption information:
- Exhibitors must write a caption to accompany their image. It should include some information such as:
- description of the scene in the photo, and how it relates to community
- how you, the photographer engages with your community
- what community means to you, or what you love about your community
- how 4-H fits into and contributes to your community
Photos that do not meet the criteria or theme listed above will be rejected and will not be included in the exhibit.
Drop off your photos:
- Drop off your framed photo at the Holter Museum between Sunday, April 26 to Saturday, May 2 during museum business hours. Please let staff know who you are, and that you’re dropping off your image for the 4-H Photo Show:
- Holter hours – Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Holter hours – Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Example photos and captions that represent
the 4-H Celebrates Community theme
Name: Mara Johnson
Age: 13
Club: Park Hill Pioneers 4-H Club
Caption: The Park Hill Pioneers 4-H Club visited the new Montana Heritage Center in Helena, where we explored the exhibits, and learned about Montana history. Here are two of our club members checking out a vintage car on display in the Homeland Gallery. I am proud that this museum is a part of our community, and glad that youth from all across Montana can visit and learn about their own communities within the exhibits.
Name: Troy Jacobson
Age: 16
Club: Horses n’ More 4-H Club
Caption: Here is my friend Jacob showing his pig at the Lewis & Clark County Fair. We both like to raise 4-H pigs, and sell them at the annual Livestock Sale in July. Part of the work includes reaching out to local businesses in my area to generate interest and potential buyers to participate in the auction. I’ve been doing this for six years now, and the business owners are always happy to see me.
Name: Corey Peterson
Age: 12
Club: Silver Mountain Stars 4-H Club
Caption: One of my favorite things about my community is Saturday afternoons on the Walking Mall in Downtown Helena. Here is a photo of my little brother checking out the little stream that runs through the Walking Mall in what is called Last Chance Gulch. This is where gold was discovered and mined over a century ago. We usually get to go to the Parrot Confectionary or Big Dipper Ice Cream for a treat, too!
Name: Macey Anderson
Age: 16
Club: Montana Motivators 4-H Club
Caption: Every year my 4-H club hosts a public car wash. This is one of my favorite events of the year, because we get to splash and get wet, but we’re also raising money for our club. I really like meeting the people in my town who stop by to get their cars cleaned. They like talking with us and learning about what we do in 4-H.
Questions? Contact Luke at elementl@icloud.com
