Annie Barker 2024 Highly Commended
Lyla Grace Hag, 16, chases goats into their quarters after a game of wiffle ball on Duncan Road on Sunday, June 26, 2022. The goats dined on greenery near the edge of the field and were corralled once dusk fell.
Left to right, Zayley Singer, 9, Langston Singer, 8 months, Kaizley Singer, 3, and Brenick Singer, 5, play as their family does yard work at Pythian Grove Cemetery on Monday, July 4, 2022. The family has relatives buried here and works with Bobby Rose who is employed by the cemetery. They started the lawn work yesterday and finished today.
Cory Kearns, 36, rides past bikers and friends during Cynthiana Bike Nite, held on Wednesdays, at 201 South Main Street at Ernies Sports Bar on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. The streets were mostly empty except for a line of motorcycles and their riders milling around in the summer humidity.
Makenna Fuson, 10, plays as Daniel Fuson, 35, finishes up brewing a batch of beer and cleans up at Maiden City Brewing Company at 123 East Pike Street on Tuesday July 12, 2022. Daniel’s wife is a second-shift nurse so he often watches over his three daughters at the brewery. During the school year he is a middle school teacher.
Adam Swayze and Lotus face off during the Generation Next Pro Wrestling event at the Harrison County Fair at 2849 US HWY 27 S on Wednesday, July 20, 2022.
Lawson Morris, 2, eats corndogs during the Harrison County Fair on Monday, July 18, 2022. This is Lawson’s second county fair and had corndogs at his first fair as well. The third night of the fair was the first night for carnival rides and included event such as the Lawn Tractor Pull and HC Baby Contest.
Luke Bays, 14, dry off sheep to prepare to go home during the Harrison County Fair on Monday, July 18, 2022. Luke who is in his fifth year of showing, follows in the tradition of his mother who showed animals, but prefers cattle because “they are more fun”.
Jeremy Wigglesworth, 40, center, participates in the first ever Harrison County Fair donkey race on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. People sixteen and older had the opportunity to try and get their donkey around the ring from the start to the finish line. Participants must have all hands and feet off the ground to win. Donkeys bucked, kicked, and refused to move during the five heats. A twenty minute intermission was given to rest and water the donkeys.
Winning turtles sit in a crate and wait for the final race during the Brooks’ “Land Tarpin Race” at Cedar Ridge Health Campus, a senior living facility, at 1217 US-62 on Thursday, June 16 2022. Racers were given a number that corresponded with a turtle and watched as the top three from the two heats moved to a third and final heat. This race followed the Brooks’ 13th Annual Land Tarpin Race at Flat Run Veterans Park on Sunday, June 12, 2022.
Elizabeth Aud, 79, left, sells tickets and stamps hands with her dog Marley to Briar Darnell, 7, right, at the Harrison County Fair on Saturday, July 23, 2022. Elizabeth has been working for the fair for over 15 years.
A sunflower leans in the summer heat as people gather to view and take photos at Stepping Stone Farm at 1674 Cynthiana Road on Thursday, July 14, 2022.
About the work
Harrison County, Kentucky flourishes every summer. Carnival rides roar at the county fair. Passing trains rattle main street buildings. Siblings wrangle a leaf blower while parents weed-wack for wages. The South Licking River and country roads wind through the land, leading to serendipitous moments. Connected by the area they share and the animals they care for, this series celebrates the residents who revel in their small-town camaraderie.
While completing this body of work, I was inspired to pursue the topic of animal rights in racing, detailed in the pitch section below. In this county, I saw great care for some animals but negligence with others. This portfolio includes two images on the topic: one of donkeys and another of turtles.
About the Photographer
Annie Barker is a 25-year-old freelance photojournalist, and journalism and creative advertising graduate from Michigan State University. She previously was a staff photographer at The Everett Herald and has interned at the Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press, and Deseret News. Her work submitted for the grant is from her time at Boyd's station in Harrison County, KY, as a grantee. Annie has attended the Santa Fe Workshops, the Eddie Adams Workshop, Missouri Photo Workshop.