A photo can tell a thousand words from just one moment in time. But at the Big Fresno Fair, the stories of those behind the viewfinder can be just as compelling.

Take Fresno City College’s Jannet Moore, a second semester online only student who won three first place ribbons at this year’s fair.

The 50-year-old mother of three wears many hats, from mother to provider then student and teacher. Moore balances all this while still homeschooling her youngest child and helping her local 4-H youth group.

However, it hasn’t been easy for Moore. She wants to put her best foot forward in everything she does but some things fall through the cracks.

“Right now it’s been really hard, because I’m wanting to get my assignments in,” Moore said.

This isn’t Moore’s first rodeo with college. “Back in the 90s,” Moore got a masters in education while minoring in Russian language and studying history.

She said her interest in history, along with encouragement from her family, led Moore to take up photography.

“I’ve been playing around with photography since I was pregnant with my last, so 15 years,” Moore said.

She would eventually start leading photography at her local 4-H chapter. 4-H is a youth program that gives kids and teens experience in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement

During her first 10 years with the program Moore felt like she started to reach a point where she didn’t have anything more to teach her kids. So in the spring of 2023, Moore enrolled at FCC with the goal of personal growth to pass down to her children.

“I don’t know if that [photography] will turn into a degree, but I’m enjoying it,” Moore said.

Photography is more than just an image to Moore. After losing her second child, photos for her hold moments in time. They carry emotions and stories that can keep those who are not with us alive in memory.

“Having lost a child, I have those pictures. Without those pictures, I wouldn’t have those memories and that time with him,” she said.