A brilliant sunset over a northern Minnesota lake. A snow-covered trail winding through the woods. The wildlife of the region moving through their habitats.
Each photograph tells a story, and for Lake Country Power, those stories have become an annual tradition through the co-op calendar.
This year is no different. Photographs submitted by members throughout the cooperative showcase the landscapes, wildlife and changing seasons that make northern Minnesota special.
The selection process begins with a small committee reviewing submissions and organizing their favorites into seasonal categories. Galleries featuring the selected photographs are then posted on LCP's Facebook page, where members vote for their favorites.
The winning photographs, three for each season and one per household, earn a place in the calendar, but the experience has become about much more than selecting beautiful pictures.
“We started doing the co-op calendar in 2013 and since then it has cultivated a way to build relationships and connections with our members, some of whom don’t get involved with their co-op other than through the calendar contest,” said Tami Zaun, public relations coordinator at LCP. “So, it’s more than just a pretty calendar.”
For Zaun, coordinating the project, the calendar has opened doors to conversations and connections with members who share a love of photography, nature and the communities they call home.
What begins as a photo submission can turn into a conversation about a favorite fishing spot, a love of loons, a memorable sunrise or the patience required to capture the perfect wildlife photograph.
The finished calendar is a celebration of northern Minnesota through the eyes of the people who live here.
And while the photographs change each year, the tradition reflects something that remains constant: the connection between Lake Country Power and the members it serves.
“Every year after counting the number of Facebook likes per photo and sorting through the entries to prevent ties, I tell myself, ‘That’s how the cookie crumbled this year and we have another beautiful calendar,’” Zaun said of the process, which often leaves her with more beautiful photos than she can fit. “This is such a fun project. It’s actually one of my favorites each year because of the connections I make with such a talented group of members.”