SUN COURIER PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON

The Sun Courier has chosen a photograph from the paper’s coverage of Reinbeck’s Fourth of July Grand Parade as our 2023 Photo of the Year.

The photo was taken by freelance photographer Soren Peterson of rural Garrison and features Reinbeck resident Janet Schildroth as she waves while driving her restored 1951 John Deere tractor in the community’s annual downtown parade.

The tractor – on which Schildroth learned to drive – belonged to her late father Everett ‘Bosco’ Wyatt.

As part of the parade, Schildroth was promoting the 2023 Grundy County Fair with her daughter Jodi Schildroth Michael (not pictured) who was also driving one of the family’s tractors.

We chose this photo as our Photo of the Year due to the tremendous response the image received online — much of that response originating from the love many in the Reinbeck community (and beyond) have for “Grandma Janet” who volunteers extensively throughout the area. The photo was also chosen for its composition and vibrancy, as well as for the ebullience evoked by the image.

Photos from our 2023 Year in Review can be found on page 8 of this week’s paper. Or by clicking here.