Sunflower Costume Contest for Dogs: 2025 Recap

Lauren
4 days ago
2 min read

For the fourth year in a row, Green Barn Garden Center (Isanti, MN) and I teamed up to put on a sunflower-themed costume contest for local dogs! We had a great turnout this year with fourteen pups strutting their stuff in various outfits. The winner receives a free photo session with me and a sunflower gift basket from Green Barn Garden Center. All participants and their people received free entry into the sunflower field for the evening of the competition and a free web-resolution digital image of their dog's official photo from the contest.

Costumes were judged based on creativity and staying on theme with sunflowers. Participants were encouraged to be as creative as possible, with the minimum entry being a bandana or similar.

Here are the top five pups as voted on by a panel of outside judges from around the pet industry:

Fifth Place: Buffy

Dog dressed as a sunflower with a bright yellow headpiece and skirt sits on a platform in a sunflower field. Overcast sky. Playful mood.

Fourth Place: Milton

Dog dressed as artist with beret and bowtie, standing by easel with sunflower painting, surrounded by a vibrant field of sunflowers.

Third Place: Finn

Dog dressed as artist with beret, striped shirt, and red bow tie holds palette beside sunflower painting in a sunflower field.

Second Place: Ruby

Dog in bee costume sits in sunflower field by crate labeled "Sunflowers 5¢." Sky is overcast, and the scene feels cheerful and whimsical.

First Place: Molly

Dog in sunflower costume with butterfly wings stands on a platform in a sunflower field. Butterflies hover above. Bright, cheerful scene.

Of course, I can't leave out the rest of the pups that dressed up for their shot at the podium. Each one was so cute and deserves their moment in the sunshine. In no particular order, we have Loki, Winston Benelli, Honey Bee, Venti, Phyllis, Marteeni, Millie, and Pascal.

Thank you so much to Green Barn Garden Center for partnering with me again this year to put on this fun event! It's a great opportunity for pet parents to get creative and spend some quality time with their pups out in the sunflowers. I hope to see everyone again next August for another incredible competition and more super cute dressed-up pups! 🌻

The full gallery of photos from this year's event can be found here.

About Scruff Life Photography:

Hi, I'm Lauren! I'm a Minnesota-based pet photographer specializing in capturing the bond between people and their pets. I understand that pets are important members of the family, and I am here to capture those special moments that you will treasure for a lifetime. Whether you just added a pet to the family or they've been there for as long as you can remember, it's never a bad time for updated professional photos! Reach out today to schedule your pet photo session with Scruff Life Photography!

Smiling woman in black shirt holds a small, gray dog with a yellow collar. They're sitting on a light-colored sofa. Cozy, happy mood.

Dog in sunflower costume with butterfly wings in sunflower field. Text: Sunflower Costume Contest for Dogs: 2025 Recap. Mood: Cheerful.