By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Collecting bugs was one of Karsen Kroupa’s favorite pastimes as a young child. When he joined 4-H, it was only natural to choose entomology as a project.

When the 8-year-old found he could go to an entomology workshop and learn how to take pictures of bugs, he was excited. His parents, Kelly and Kim Kroupa of rural Marion, purchased a Fugifilm point-and-shoot digital camera for him.

He has gone to three workshops in the past four years and has an album full of insects he has photographed.

He has shot many other things and has won several purple ribbons at the county fair. He won a blue ribbon at the state fair for his photo of the Pilsen Catholic church.

Karsen won a prize at the Tri-County Fair in Herington for a photo he took of his grandpa’s old red truck sitting in a water puddle.

Now a sixth grader at Centre Elementary School, Karsen took his photography to a new level last summer when he established KJK Sports Pics, took photos of recreational baseball teams, and sold them to parents.

Last fall, Karsen created a poster and set up a booth at Lincolnville’s Octoberfest and Tampa’s Trail Fest, where he took pictures of kids and sold them.

He also took photos at Tampa of kids with Santa at Christmas.

Karsen delivers the printed photos to his customers. He plans to continue his business.

“It’s fun,” he said.

The 12-year-old entrepreneur will be recognized Feb. 24 at the annual Marion County Conservation District banquet for an entry he submitted for a conservation photo contest. His photo of several feeder cattle along a fenceline feed bunk at his parents’ farm north of Marion was the winning entry from Marion County in a statewide contest. It showed a cover crop in the background that helps minimize run-off into Luta Creek. It also showed the creek timber. The natural creek line has been preserved in most areas along the creek.

Karsen is a member of Triple T’s 4-H Club at Tampa.