ALBION, Neb.— An Albion woman is being awarded $5,000 to donate to charity after winning a photo submission contest.
 
Ashley Babl entered the Lallemand Hometown Roots contest with a photo she captured of her son.
 
Babl, along with five other winners across the Midwest, received $5,000 that will be donated to a program of the winner’s choosing. The selected programs are meant to represent strengthening rural communities and celebrating the next generation of agricultural leaders.
 
Babl chose to donate her $5,000 to the Teammates Mentoring Program - Boone Central Chapter, of which her son is part of. 
 
“I hope this donation helps them reach more children and do even more good in our community,” said Babl. “I’m grateful to Lallemand for running a contest that supports rural communities like ours.”
 
The contest, which was launched in 2021, enables Lallemand to award $5,000 to 29 rural organizations across the U.S. and Canada. The company labels itself as an expert in yeast and bacteria manufacturing.