Rules

Garden Gate Magazine’s 2027 “Container Gardening Challenge”

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

1. ELIGIBILITY:

The Container Gardening Challenge (the “Contest”) is open to legal residents of the United States residing in the 48 contiguous states who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of entry. Entrants under the age of eighteen (18) years of age may participate only if a parent or legal guardian completes the entry on their behalf and agrees to be bound by these Official Rules on the minor’s behalf. Employees, contractors, directors, and officers of Active Interest Media Holdco, Inc., publisher of Garden Gate magazine (the “Sponsor”), and its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, and immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling, and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) or those living in the same household (whether or not related) are not eligible to enter or win.

Void where prohibited by law. All entries are subject to verification and may be disqualified if found to be in violation of these Official Rules.

2. ENTRY PERIOD:

The entry period begins at 12:01 a.m. Central Time on March 13, 2026, and ends at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on September 30, 2026 (the “Entry Period”). Sponsor’s computer is the official timekeeping device for this Contest.

3. HOW TO ENTER:

The Contest must be entered by submitting an entry using the online form provided on this site. The entry must fulfill all Contest requirements, as specified, to be eligible to win a prize. Entries that are not complete or do not adhere to the rules or specifications may be disqualified at the sole discretion of Sponsor. You may enter only once and you must fill in the information requested. You may not enter more times than indicated by using multiple e-mail addresses, identities or devices in an attempt to circumvent the rules. If you use fraudulent methods or otherwise attempt to circumvent the rules your submission may be removed from eligibility at the sole discretion of Sponsor.

Acceptable file formats: JPEG, PNG. Maximum file size per image: 10 MB. Total Submission size should not exceed 50 MB.

4. PRIZES:

Winning container designs will be featured in a future issue of Garden Gate magazine.

Plus, our top winners will receive a Container Gardening Gift Package. Prizes are non-transferable and no substitution or cash equivalent will be made, except at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value.

Any difference between the stated actual retail value and actual value will not be awarded. Winner is solely responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes on prize value, including the requirement to provide a valid taxpayer identification number for IRS reporting purposes if the total prize value exceeds $600. Sponsor makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding any prize provided by third-party sponsors, including but not limited to any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Prizes are provided “as is,” and any issues with prize quality or functionality should be directed the respective prize provider.

5. WINNER SELECTION & NOTIFICATION:

On or about October 5, 2026, winners will be selected by Garden Gate editorial staff and chosen based on the beauty and creativity of their design. The decisions of the judges are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest. Odds of winning depend on the number and quality of eligible entries received. They will be notified via the email address they provided at time of entry.

To claim their prize, potential winners must respond within five (5) days of notification and provide their full name, valid email address, and mailing address. Sponsor may require the completion of an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity Release, and verification of age (valid photo ID). If a potential winner does not respond within the required timeframe or is found ineligible, an alternate winner may be selected.

Return of any prize notification as undeliverable will result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.

6. PUBLICITY RELEASE:

By accepting a prize, each winner grants Sponsor and its affiliates the right to use their name, submitted content, and statements about the Contest for promotional purposes, in any media, worldwide, without further compensation or notice, unless prohibited by law.

7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY & RELEASE:

By entering, you agree to release, indemnify, and hold harmless Active Interest Media Holdco, Inc., Garden Gate magazine, and their respective parent, subsidiary, and affiliated companies, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, successors,

and assigns (collectively, the “Released Parties”), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all liability, claims, actions, and damages arising out of or relating to: (a) entrant's participation in the Contest; (b) the acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of any prize; (c) any injury, death, or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant's participation in the Contest or receipt or use of any prize; (d) technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines, network hardware or software, or email delivery; (e) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; (f) electronic or human error which may occur in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries; (g) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest; or (h) any claims based on publicity rights, defamation, or invasion of privacy

SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

8. GENERAL CONDITIONS:

Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the Contest if any fraud, technical failure, or other factor beyond Sponsor’s control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Contest, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any entrant who tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest, or who violates these Official rules.

Any attempt to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest may be a violation of criminal and civil laws, and Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY VIOLATE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND OTHER REMEDIES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

9. Disputes:

THIS CONTEST IS GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF IOWA, WITHOUT RESPECT TO CONFLICT OF LAW DOCTRINES.

As a condition of participating in this Contest, participant agrees that any and all disputes which cannot be resolved between the parties, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively before a court located in Polk County, Des Moines. BY ENTERING THIS CONTEST, ENTRANT WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION.

Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, including reasonable attorneys' fees, other than participant's actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e. costs associated with entering this Contest), and participant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.

10. Severability

If any provision of these Official Rules is found by a court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, that provision shall be deemed severed from these Official Rules and shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions.

11. PRIVACY:

Information collected from entrants is subject to the Sponsor’s Privacy Policy: https://www.aimmedia.com/privacy-policy/

By entering this Contest, entrant consents to the collection, use, and disclosure of their personal information as described in the Privacy Policy and these Official Rules, including for purposes of Contest administration, prize fulfillment, and promotional communications.

12. SOCIAL MEDIA DISCLAIMER

This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, or any other social media platform. Entrants are providing information to Sponsor and not to any social media platform.

13. SPONSOR:

Garden Gate Magazine

c/o Active Interest Media

2143 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312 https://www.gardengatemagazine.com

14. WINNERS LIST:

To request a list of winners, email: info@gardengatemagazine.com

with the subject line “Container Gardening Challenge Winners Request” by January 15, 2027.