HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas Wheat will sponsor some friendly competition at the Kansas State Fair next month in Hutchinson.

That includes the Kansas Wheat Photography Contest, which will include photographs featuring all phases of the wheat industry. These color photographs will be used to promote Kansas as America’s No. 1 Wheat State. All Kansans — amateur and professional photographers — are invited to capture the story of Kansas wheat.

For those handy in the kitchen with a creative streak, the inaugural Bread Sculpture Contest might be of interest. Kansas Wheat is encouraging participants to look beyond the loaf and shape bread in new and innovative ways. Creativity and originality are the top points in the competition’s scorecard. Judges will also be looking for execution, visual impact, color palate and finally, the completeness of provided instructions.

Entries must include a typed, detailed recipe including shaping instructions with step-by-step photos or sketches on an 8.5″ x 11″ sheet of paper. While there are no size restrictions, small entries, such as rolls, must be presented with six individual sculptures.

For those with nimble fingers and an artistic heart, wheat weaving is available. This division is made up of 11 classes, including beginner, corsages, wall hangings, free-standing and holiday designs. Entrants are encouraged to show off their intricate creations made from wheat.

Entries will be judged on variety mill/bake scores, protein, test weight, dockage and shrunken and broken kernels. All exhibits in the Market Wheat Show must contain five pounds of wheat grown by the exhibitor in the current year.

There isn’t much time to enter. Entry forms must be received by Aug. 15 and can be submitted either online or by mail. Entries received after this date will be subject to late fees. Each contest has different receiving schedules. For receiving schedules and more information on these contests, please visit www.kansaswheat.org.