What is the Valley Land Fund?

Mission Statement
The mission of The Valley Land Fund is to preserve, enhance and expand the native wildlife habitat of the Rio Grande Valley through education, land ownership and the creation of economic incentives for preservation.

Conservation
The Valley Land Fund assists with conservation of native habitat through the protection of land in the southernmost counties of deep South Texas - the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Click here to read more about our land conservation projects and partnerships.

Education
The use of winning images for educating the citizens of our area is one of the most important aspects of this contest. With these photos, we are able to make individuals, young and old, aware of our wonderful natural heritage and the existence of every species of plant and animal that is in jeopardy.

Wildlife Photo Contest
The photo contest is the major fundraising event that supports our activities. The Valley Land Fund celebrates, endorses and recognizes the profession of wildlife photography and its importance to conservation. Each contest produces a spectacular photo book that showcases the important wildlife of our area.

Private Landowners
Private landowners play a crucial role in the conservation of wildlife in America today. Without their participation in conservation, entire ecosystems will be lost, never to be appreciated by future generations. The Valley Land Fund believes that wildlife conservation can best be promoted through sound economic incentives for private landowners to protect and enhance the diversity of habitats.

Who Benefits from the Wildlife Photo Contest?

The Goal of The Valley Land Fund Wildlife Photo Contest is to create a partnership between businesses, private landowners and wildlife photographers, where all participants benefit while promoting the conservation and protection of wildlife and habitat.

Wildlife photography is a powerful tool in the effort for conservation. The images produced by photographers allow people of the world to view nature with refreshed admiration, respect and compassion.

Landowners and Photographers
Landowners and photographers compete as teams and share equally in the significant prize money. Additionally, landowners and photographers enjoy promoting wildlife conservation while participating in the toughest, most challenging wildlife photo contest in the world.

Business
Businesses benefit through advertising sponsorships that offer years of positive exposure and through the direct economic rewards of products and services that result from the contest.

Wildlife
Wildlife prospers as landowners recognize that the most diverse and well-managed habitat has the best chance of producing winning images.

The Public
The public becomes more aware of the unique and beautiful wildlife of our region. The photographs are showcased in books, magazines and other forms of media. We also create traveling photo exhibits to be displayed in sponsors' businesses, museums, public gathering places and at special events. Photography provides an unforgettable experience for people of all ages and educates them about conserving the glory of wildlife and its vital native habitat.