SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Rep. Billy Long is pleased to announce the winning photo locations of the Ozark photo contest are now proudly displayed in his congressional offices.

            Long sponsored the Ozark photo contest to highlight the 10 counties that make up Missouri’s 7^th District.  The presiding commissioner of each of the counties submitted three locations that they felt best represented their counties. Families in the district then selected the winning photo locations, which were photographed and displayed in his congressional offices.  The office reached out to different universities in the area to recommend photography students, and chose Megan Spree to photograph the locations after viewing her portfolio.

            Megan Spree is a recent graduate of Missouri State University where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography and a minor in Art History.  Her parents, David and Jean Spree, own and operate a dairy farm outside Mount Vernon, MO, where she was born and raised.  Megan’s love for photography began when she was a little girl. She always enjoyed taking pictures and friends could always rely on her to have a camera.  She was a member of Phi Sigma Pi National Co-Ed Honors Fraternity, and served as public relations chair and historian.  She was also a member of the Student Photographic Society where she served as treasurer.

            “I am looking forward to sharing the beauty we have in our backyard in Missouri’s 7^th District with all who visit my offices.  I want to thank Megan for sharing her creative talent with our district,” Long said.  “These sites representing our district are now proudly displayed in our Joplin, Springfield, and Washington offices.” 

            “I was honored to have been chosen to photograph the winning locations of the Ozark photo contest,” Spree said.  “I truly enjoyed each journey that it led me on.  Some places I had never been to, though I’ve lived here all my life, while others I visited as a young girl.  I truly appreciate the opportunity to have my work showcased in Rep. Long’s offices.”

            To view the Ozark photo contest photos, visit http://long.house.gov/photos/and scroll to the bottom of the page.  The following are the winning photo locations:

·  Barry County- Roaring River State Park

·  Christian County- Smallin Cave

·  Greene County- Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

·  Jasper County- Carthage Courthouse

·  Lawrence County- Route 66 Gas Station

·  McDonald County- Elk River

·  Newton County- George Washington Carver National Park  

·  Polk County- Old Northward School

·  Stone County- Kimberling City Bridge

·  Taney County- The Shepherd of the Hills  

###