Is Fluffy, your kitten, photogenic? Is your bulldog, Hiram, a ham? Whether it’s a dog, a cat, a bird, a fish or something a bit more exotic, your pet could be famous.
The first-ever Leader Pet Expo, slated for May 3 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro, a calendar featuring prize-winning photos of Jefferson County pets will be sold.
Leader Publications, which is sponsoring the event with the Hillsboro Community Civic Club, is holding a contest to find pets for the calendar. The proceeds will be donated to charity.
Readers of all ages are encouraged to submit photos of their pet for the contest. Leader staffers will select the 14 best for the calendar, and the top choice will win the $200 grand prize and be featured on the calendar cover.
Photos that have appeared in past Leader photo contests are NOT eligible; however, owners may send a different photo of the same pet.
Selection will be based on the quality of the photographs. Judges will evaluate pictures on creativity, composition, charm and technical aspects such as focus, lighting and cropping. Entries may be color or black and white, and may contain more than one pet. The photo should be rectangular, with a horizontal orientation.
In order to be eligible, the photo must be on photo paper, and must be accompanied by the following information:
■ The photographer’s name, address, daytime phone number and age.
■ The name and age of all pets in the photo.
■ The date and place the photo was taken.
■ The names of any people in the photo.
Do not email photos since a print is required for judging purposes.
There is a limit of three entries per person. Deadline for submitting a photo is Friday, March 27. Send entries to: Leader Pet Calendar, P.O. Box 159, Festus, 63028, or drop off at the Leader office, 503 N. Second St., Festus.
Photos can be picked up at the office after April 30. Entries will be mailed back if submitted with a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Expo to feature vendors, shows, displays, food
Booth spaces are available at $75 for vendors wishing to take part in the first-ever Leader Pet Expo, scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 10349 Business 21, in Hillsboro.
Admission to the event is $1 and parking is free. The admission fee will be donated to the Hillsboro Community Civic Club.
“Pets are a big part of our readers’ lives, and we’re excited to offer this new event for pet lovers,” Leader publisher Pam LaPlant said.
Serengeti Steve will be on hand, giving Expo visitors hands-on interaction with a variety of reptiles.
Representatives from Wil-Nor Outdoors will have demonstrations with hunting dogs, and staff members from the World Bird Sanctuary will showcase birds of prey. The Jefferson County 4-H DreamCatchers Horse Club will give a demonstration with horses.
There will be informational displays, food vendors and more.
“It should be a lot of fun for families, and we hope a lot of people will come and check it out,” LaPlant said. “We fully expect this to become another of the Leader’s fun traditions.”
For information about the contest or the Pet Expo, call the Leader at 636-931-7560.