The awards keep coming
At the Kentucky State Fair, the Kentucky Living team celebrated the winners of the 2026 Best in Kentucky Awards, recognizing the destinations, businesses, and attractions that readers say represent the very best of the Commonwealth.
Kentucky Living and the Kentucky Electric Cooperatives communications team continue to earn awards in national cooperative contests. The team earned 13 awards from the Cooperative Communicators Association Institute in June and brought home seven awards, including five first place, from the Statewide Editors Association Institute in August.
The awards are as follows:
CCA Institute
- Third place, Writing, Long-Form Feature, “Inside the Wire,” Joel Sams
- Third place, Writing, News Story, “Tornado damage meets co-op determination,” Joe Arnold
- Second place, Writing, News Story, “The grid’s balancing act,” Joe Arnold and Scott Flood
- Third place, Writing, Column or Series, “Kentucky Eats,” Joel Sams
- Second place, Writing, Writing Portfolio, Joel Sams
- Second place, Photography, Scenic/Pictorial, “Patriotic push mowers,” Jolea Brown
- First place, Photography, Scenic/Pictorial, “Milky Way,” Jason Miller
- Second place, Photography, Photo Feature, “Country Ham Festival ride,” Joe Imel
- First place, Photography, Photo Illustration, “No-till, no problem,” Jessica Hawkins
- Third place, Photography, Photo Essay or Story, “A trusted source,” Kacey Harmeling
- Second place, Photography, Cover, July 2025 cover, Katy Hurt
- Best of Show, Photography, “Milky Way,” Jason Miller
- Second place, Publications, Story or Article Design, “Wildlife 101,” Kacey Harmeling
SEA Institute
- First place, Best Column, “The Handprint,” Byron Crawford
- Third place, Best News Feature, “Inside the Wire,” Joel Sams
- First place, Best Personality Feature, “Bringing the World to Paducah,” Graham Shelby
- First place, Best Portrait Photo, “Fred Noe,” Wade Harris
- First place, Best Scenic/Pictorial Photo, “Milky Way,” Jason Miller
- Second place, Best Cover, “Natural Wonders,” Jessica Hawkins
- First place, Best Overall Magazine Design, Kentucky Living
