Awards were accepted by Register staff members at the Minnesota Newspaper Association convention held recently in Brooklyn Park. Left to right are managing editor Chuck Hunt, MNA President Chad Koenen, publisher Lori Nauman, and staff writer Fiona Green.

For the second year in a row, the staff at the Faribault County Register won seven awards in the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Annual Better Newspaper Contest at the association’s annual convention.

The winners were named and given their awards at a banquet on Thursday, Feb. 1, at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest hotel.

The Register’s awards were to the entire staff as well as to some individual staff members in a variety of categories. The awards included two for first place, three for second place and two for third place.

“It is always nice to be recognized by our peers in the newspaper industry,” publisher Lori Nauman said. “We also could not do what we do here without the support of our parent company, Ogden Newspapers Inc., and the support of all of our readers and advertisers.”

The Register took a first place award in the Best Magazine category for their annual Our Heroes magazine.

Comments from the judges included: “Love this magazine, especially the compelling stories about local veterans. Excellent reporting and well written. Photos add nicely. Packaged in an attractive and easy-to-navigate format. A keepsake.”

Creative design manager Pam True also won a first place award in the Self-Promotion or House Ad category for an ad she designed for promoting a 2023 subscription campaign.

Judges’ comments included: “Nice use of space and color.”

Sales representative/graphic designer Kristin Woodwick won second place in the Institutional Advertisement category for an ad she created for St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center’s 60th anniversary.

Comments from the judges were: “Tasteful, understated while still being dynamic. Classic design elements.”

Staff writer/photographer Fiona Green also placed second in the Arts and Entertainment Story category for a story she wrote titled ‘Living a Teenage Dream.’ It was about the Blue Dirt Road band in Blue Earth.

Register managing editor Chuck Hunt took second place in the Photography – Portrait and Personality category for a photo titled ‘I’m Batman.’

Judges’ comments included: “This is just too cute for words! Catching this little one peeking out from under the mask makes the photo so much better than if the mask was in place!”

A third place award went to staff writer/photographer Kevin Mertens in the Photography – Sports Photo category. It was titled Pole Vaulter Concentration.

Comments from the judges included: “I just kept coming back to this photo with the intense emotion and perfect composition. The lines of the pole vault set this photo up perfect.”

The Register won a third place award in the Magazine – General Reporting category for Our Heroes magazine.

The judges’ comments included: “Profiles of featured veterans are fully reported and written with care and respect for their service to country. Use of historic photos adds to the reader experience.”

“We appreciate the recognition we received at the newspaper convention this year,” Nauman added. “We are very blessed to have such an experienced and talented staff here at the Register. We are a great team, with everyone pitching in and doing their best work all the time.”

There were 4,095 entries in this year’s newspaper contest, which covered items published from October 2022 to September 2023.

Judging was done by newspaper staff persons from three states, South Dakota, North Carolina and New Jersey.