A Wholesome Alternative to Common Pet Nutrition
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
OFFICIAL RULES
NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER, NOMINATE, OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE THE CHANCES OF BEING SELECTED.
No purchase, payment, social-media follow, marketing consent, or subscription to promotional communications is required to enter, be considered, or be selected as the potential Grand Prize Winner. No purchase, payment, referral, social-media activity, or marketing opt-in will affect the judging criteria or increase any Hero’s likelihood of being selected. If selected as the potential Grand Prize Winner, the potential winner must satisfy all eligibility, verification, acceptance, license, story, publicity, reasonable cooperation, and documentation requirements described in these Official Rules as a condition of being confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receiving the Grand Prize.
1. Eligibility
The Wholesomes Heroes Promotion (the “Promotion”) is open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of participation.
Individuals may participate by either:
Submitting their own story for consideration (“Self-Submission”); or
Nominating an eligible Hero (“Nomination”).
To be eligible to be selected as the Grand Prize Winner, the individual whose story is submitted or nominated (the “Hero”) must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and must be a current or former member of the United States Armed Forces or an eligible first responder, as defined below.
For purposes of this Promotion, an eligible “Hero” is an individual who currently serves or previously served in the United States Armed Forces, or who currently serves or previously served in an eligible first-responder role. Eligible first responders include law-enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and other individuals whose primary professional or volunteer responsibilities involve responding to emergencies involving public safety, fire suppression, rescue, or emergency medical care. Sponsor may determine whether a role qualifies as an eligible first-responder role based on the nature of the individual’s actual duties and responsibilities.
For clarity, references to “veterans” in Promotion advertising or materials are intended to include current or former United States Armed Forces service members to the extent stated in these Official Rules.
Sponsor reserves the right to request reasonable documentation or other information necessary to verify the eligibility of Entrants, Heroes, nominees, and potential winners.
Employees of Midwestern Pet Foods (the “Sponsor”), its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, suppliers, and members of their immediate families and/or persons living in the same household are not eligible to participate in or win the Promotion. For purposes of these Official Rules, “immediate family” means a spouse, parent, child, sibling, and the spouse of any such person, regardless of where they reside. “Household member” means any person who shares the same residence for at least three (3) months during the twelve (12) months preceding the start of the Promotion Period.
The Promotion is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited.
2. Agreement to Official Rules
By participating in the Promotion, each person submitting a Self-Submission or Nomination (“Entrant”) agrees to be fully and unconditionally bound by these Official Rules and represents and warrants that they meet the applicable eligibility requirements.
Entrants agree to accept Sponsor’s decisions as final and binding in all matters relating to the Promotion, including eligibility, submission review, judging, and winner selection, subject to applicable law.
For a Self-Submission, Entrant represents and warrants that the story submitted is their own story, that the information provided is truthful and accurate to the best of their knowledge, and that they have the authority to submit the information included in the entry.
The rights granted by an Entrant in connection with a Self-Submission are described in Section 5. Any broader license, story, and publicity rights required from a potential Grand Prize Winner are described in Section 11 and are a condition of accepting the Grand Prize.
For purposes of these Official Rules, “Winner Publicity Rights” means the license, story, publicity, and related permissions described in Section 11. Winner Publicity Rights are required only if an individual is selected as the potential Grand Prize Winner and wishes to be confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receive the Grand Prize.
For a Nomination, Entrant represents and warrants that, to the best of their knowledge, the information provided about the nominee is truthful and accurate. An Entrant submitting a Nomination does not grant Sponsor publicity or promotional rights on behalf of the nominee. Sponsor will obtain any required permission directly from the nominee before publicly using the nominee’s story, name, likeness, statements, or other personal information for advertising, marketing, or promotional purposes as described in Section 11 of these Official Rules.
3. Promotion Period
The Promotion begins on October 1, 2026 at 12:00 a.m. Central Time (“CT”) and ends on November 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT (the “Promotion Period”).
All online submissions must be received by November 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT. Mail-in submissions are subject to the postmark and receipt deadlines set forth in Section 7.
Sponsor anticipates reviewing and judging eligible submissions following the close of the Promotion Period. The potential Grand Prize Winner is anticipated to be notified on or about November 11, 2026, subject to the winner selection process described in these Official Rules.
Any public announcement of the confirmed Grand Prize Winner may occur at a later date following verification of eligibility, acceptance of the Grand Prize, completion of all required documentation, and receipt of the required license, story, and publicity permissions, and satisfaction of the applicable reasonable cooperation requirements described in Sections 10 and 11.
4. How to Participate
During the Promotion Period, visit the official Wholesomes Heroes Promotion landing page and complete the required online submission form.
Entrants may participate in one of two ways:
A. Submit Your Own Story
An eligible Hero may submit their own story of service, including experiences during or after service and the moments that have shaped their journey.
Entrants are also invited to share the role a canine companion has played in their journey, if applicable. Having a dog or including a canine companion as part of the submitted story is not required to participate or be selected as the Grand Prize Winner.
OR
B. Nominate a Hero
An Entrant may nominate an eligible Hero by sharing the Hero’s story and explaining why they deserve to be recognized as a Wholesomes Hero.
The online submission form may request information including:
Entrant’s name;
Entrant’s email address;
Hero’s name;
Hero’s email address;
Whether the submission is a Self-Submission or Nomination;
The Hero’s story, not to exceed 500 words; and
Other information reasonably necessary to administer the Promotion.
For a Nomination, Entrants may also be asked whether they authorize Sponsor to identify them to the Hero as the person who submitted the Nomination, as further described in Section 6.
An eligible individual may submit one (1) Self-Submission on their own behalf and may nominate multiple eligible Heroes; however, an Entrant may submit no more than one (1) Nomination for the same Hero.
Multiple Nominations of the same Hero by the same Entrant will not be considered. Multiple Nominations received from different Entrants for the same Hero will not increase that Hero’s likelihood of being selected. Sponsor may combine or consolidate multiple Nominations concerning the same Hero for purposes of reviewing, judging, and administering the Promotion.
If a Hero submits a Self-Submission and also receives one or more eligible Nominations from other Entrants, Sponsor may combine or consolidate the Self-Submission and Nominations concerning that Hero for purposes of evaluation and administration. Each Hero will be evaluated only once for purposes of selecting the potential Grand Prize Winner, regardless of the number or type of eligible submissions concerning that Hero. Judges may consider the eligible information contained in the consolidated submissions concerning a Hero, but the number of submissions or Nominations received will not itself be a judging factor or provide any advantage.
Participants may optionally share the Promotion with or refer other eligible individuals to participate. Referrals do not constitute additional entries, affect judging, or increase any Entrant’s or Hero’s likelihood of being selected.
Following Wholesomes on social media, referring another Hero, subscribing to marketing communications, or completing any other optional action is not required to participate or win and will not affect judging or increase the likelihood of being selected.
Submissions must be complete and comply with these Official Rules. Sponsor may disqualify any incomplete, fraudulent, misleading, inappropriate, or otherwise noncompliant submission at its sole discretion, subject to applicable law.
5. Self-Submission Story and Publicity Permission
By submitting a Self-Submission, Entrant grants Sponsor and its affiliates a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to access, review, reproduce, and use the submitted story and information solely as reasonably necessary to administer, evaluate, judge, verify, and otherwise operate the Promotion.
Except as expressly provided for the confirmed Grand Prize Winner in Section 11, Sponsor will not publicly feature, advertise, market, publish, distribute, or otherwise use the Entrant’s name, likeness, statements, biographical information, photographs, videos, or submitted story for advertising, marketing, promotional, public relations, or other commercial purposes based solely on the submission of a Self-Submission.
Sponsor may separately contact an Entrant whose Self-Submission is not selected as the Grand Prize Winner to request permission for a public, advertising, marketing, promotional, or public-relations use. Any such permission must be obtained separately from entry in the Promotion, and an Entrant’s decision to grant or decline such permission will not affect judging, eligibility, or the Entrant’s consideration in the Promotion.
If selected as the potential Grand Prize Winner, the Entrant must agree to the license, story, and publicity rights described in Section 11 as a condition of being confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receiving the Grand Prize. These license, story, and publicity rights are not required to enter the Promotion, submit a Self-Submission, receive consideration, or be considered during judging; they are required only if an individual is selected as the potential Grand Prize Winner and wishes to accept and receive the Grand Prize.
6. Third-Party Nominations and Nominee Permission
An Entrant may nominate another eligible Hero for consideration.
By submitting a Nomination, Entrant represents that they have a reasonable basis for providing the nominee’s contact information to Sponsor for purposes of the Promotion and that, to the best of Entrant’s knowledge, the information submitted is accurate.
Entrants should not submit sensitive personal information about a nominee that is not reasonably necessary for the administration, evaluation, or verification of the Promotion.
Entrants must not submit medical records, detailed medical or diagnostic information, Social Security numbers or other government identification numbers, classified information, confidential military, law-enforcement, emergency-response, or employment information, financial-account information, or other highly sensitive personal information concerning a nominee unless expressly requested by Sponsor and the Entrant is authorized to provide it. General references to an injury, health condition, recovery, or similar experience may be included where reasonably relevant to the Hero’s story, but Entrants should avoid unnecessary medical details.
Information submitted about a nominee will be used for purposes of administering the Promotion, evaluating the Nomination, contacting the nominee if selected as a potential Grand Prize Winner, and otherwise as described in Sponsor’s Privacy Policy.
Sponsor will use the nominee’s contact information only as reasonably necessary to administer the Promotion, including to evaluate the Nomination and to contact the nominee if selected as a potential Grand Prize Winner. A nominee’s contact information will not, solely because of the Nomination, be used to enroll the nominee in advertising or marketing communications.
Submission of a Nomination does not, by itself, grant Sponsor any license or permission to publicly use or publish the nominee’s story, name, likeness, statements, biographical information, or other personal information for advertising, marketing, or promotional purposes. Any required license, story, and publicity rights will be obtained directly from the nominee before such use.
Nominator Identity
Sponsor may inform a nominee that they have been nominated for the Wholesomes Heroes Promotion. Sponsor will not identify the Entrant who submitted the Nomination to the nominee unless the Entrant affirmatively authorizes Sponsor to do so, except where disclosure is required by law or reasonably necessary to administer the Promotion.
If the Entrant gives Sponsor permission to disclose their identity, Sponsor may tell the nominee the Entrant’s name and that the Entrant nominated them. Granting or declining permission to disclose the Entrant’s identity will have no effect on the Nomination’s eligibility, judging, or consideration in the Promotion.
If a nominee is selected as a potential Grand Prize Winner, Sponsor will contact the nominee using the contact information provided and request that the nominee:
Confirm their eligibility;
Verify the submitted story and information;
Agree to accept the Grand Prize;
Grant Sponsor the Winner Publicity Rights described in Section 11;
Agree to reasonably cooperate with Sponsor in connection with the creation and use of the Grand Prize Winner feature as described in Sections 10 and 11; and
Complete any affidavits, releases, publicity permissions, or other documentation reasonably required by Sponsor.
Granting the Winner Publicity Rights and satisfying the reasonable cooperation requirements described in Sections 10 and 11 are conditions of being confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receiving the Grand Prize.
A nominee who does not wish to grant the Winner Publicity Rights or satisfy the reasonable cooperation requirements described in Sections 10 and 11 is under no obligation to do so. However, because the Winner Publicity Rights and reasonable cooperation requirements are conditions of being confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receiving the Grand Prize, a nominee who declines to grant the Winner Publicity Rights or declines to reasonably cooperate as required by Sections 10 and 11 will not be confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and will not receive the Grand Prize. Sponsor may select an alternate potential Grand Prize Winner from the remaining eligible Heroes in accordance with the judging criteria described in Section 9.
7. Alternative Method of Entry (“AMOE”)
To participate without completing the online form, mail a written or typed submission containing your full name, email address, and the words “Wholesomes Heroes Promotion,” and indicate whether you are submitting your own story or nominating another person. Include the Hero’s story, not to exceed 500 words.
If nominating another person, include the Hero’s full name and email address and indicate whether you give Sponsor permission to identify you to the Hero as the person who submitted the Nomination.
If no permission to disclose the nominator’s identity is provided, Sponsor will not identify the Entrant to the Hero, except where disclosure is required by law or reasonably necessary to administer the Promotion.
Do not include medical records, government identification numbers, classified or confidential information, sensitive military or law-enforcement information, financial-account information, or other highly sensitive personal information about yourself or another person unless expressly requested by Sponsor and you are authorized to provide it.
The mail-in submission must also include the following statement, signed by the Entrant:
“I have read and agree to the Official Rules of the Wholesomes Heroes Promotion.”
For a Self-Submission, the Entrant’s agreement to the Official Rules includes the limited submission license described in Section 5. If selected as the potential Grand Prize Winner, the Entrant must separately agree to the license, story, and publicity rights described in Section 11 as a condition of being confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receiving the Grand Prize.
Mail submissions to:
Wholesomes Marketing
Wholesomes Heroes Promotion
9634 Hedden Rd
Evansville, IN 47725
United States
Mail-in submissions must be postmarked by November 1, 2026, and received by November 6, 2026. Timely mail-in submissions received by November 6, 2026 will be included in the judging process before final selection of the potential Grand Prize Winner.
No purchase, payment, social-media follow, marketing consent, or subscription to promotional communications is required to enter, be considered, be selected, or win. However, if selected as the potential Grand Prize Winner, the potential winner must satisfy the eligibility, verification, acceptance, license, story, publicity, reasonable cooperation, and documentation requirements described in Sections 10 and 11 as a condition of receiving the Grand Prize.
8. Grand Prize
One (1) Grand Prize Winner will receive a Wholesomes Heroes Grand Prize with an Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of over $1,025.
The Grand Prize includes:
One-year supply of Wholesomes Dog Food consisting of 12 vouchers with maximum retail value of $590.00;
One (1) Red, White & Blue Edition YETI Tundra 45 Cooler;
(3) 20oz Yeti Ramblers;
Wholesomes Hat;
Wholesomes Shirt
The ARV stated above must equal the combined approximate retail value of all prize components actually provided to the Grand Prize Winner.
In addition to the Grand Prize, Sponsor will make a $400 donation to Folds of Honor in honor of the Grand Prize Winner.
The $400 charitable donation is separate from and is not part of the Grand Prize awarded to the winner. The Grand Prize Winner has no ownership interest in, control over, right to receive, or right to redeem or substitute the charitable donation. The charitable donation has no cash value to the Grand Prize Winner.
The individual selected by the judges as the potential Grand Prize Winner must satisfy the eligibility, verification, acceptance, license, story, publicity, reasonable cooperation, and documentation requirements described in these Official Rules before being confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receiving the Grand Prize. Once confirmed, the Grand Prize Winner’s story will be featured by Wholesomes through one or more of its marketing and promotional channels, which may include Wholesomes’ website, social media channels, email communications, public relations, and other advertising and promotional materials, including paid media and advertising campaigns, subject to the license, story, and publicity rights described in Section 11.
Exact styles, sizes, colors, flavors, quantities, and other prize components may be selected by Sponsor based on availability, provided that any substitution is made in accordance with this Section 8.
Ownership of a dog is not required to participate or win. Pet-related components of the Grand Prize, including Wholesomes Dog Food, are part of the Grand Prize regardless of whether the Grand Prize Winner owns a dog. No substitute prize will be provided solely because the Grand Prize Winner does not own a dog or cannot use a pet-related prize component.
No cash redemption or prize substitution is permitted by the winner. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to substitute any prize or prize component with a prize of equal or greater value if an advertised prize or prize component becomes unavailable.
The actual value of the Grand Prize may vary based on market conditions, product selection, location, and other factors. Any difference between the stated ARV and the actual value of the Grand Prize will not be awarded in cash or otherwise.
The Grand Prize is nontransferable.
Any and all prize-related expenses not specifically stated as included in the Grand Prize, including applicable federal, state, and local taxes, are the sole responsibility of the Grand Prize Winner. The Grand Prize Winner may be required to complete and return a W-9 or other applicable documentation.
Third-party prize manufacturers and retailers are not sponsors, administrators, or endorsers of this Promotion unless expressly stated otherwise. YETI and Folds of Honor are not a sponsor, administrator, or endorser of this Promotion and is not affiliated with Sponsor in connection with this Promotion. The Promotion is sponsored and administered solely by Midwestern Pet Foods.
The Grand Prize will only be shipped to an address within the eligible territory.
9. Winner Selection
Following the close of the Promotion Period and after all timely mail-in submissions have been received in accordance with Section 7, Sponsor and/or a panel of judges designated by Sponsor, whose identities may be kept confidential, will review all eligible Self-Submissions and Nominations.
For purposes of judging, each eligible Hero will be evaluated only once. If more than one eligible Self-Submission and/or Nomination concerns the same Hero, Sponsor may consolidate the eligible information concerning that Hero for evaluation as described in Section 4. The number of submissions received for a Hero will not be a judging factor.
One (1) potential Grand Prize Winner will be selected based on the judges’ evaluation of each eligible Hero and the eligible information submitted concerning that Hero using the following criteria:
Authenticity: The sincerity and authenticity of the Hero’s story and experiences;
Impact: The significance and inspirational nature of the Hero’s service, experiences, and journey;
Storytelling: The strength and compelling nature of the story and information presented about the Hero; and
Relevance: The extent to which the submission reflects the purpose and spirit of the Wholesomes Heroes Promotion, including recognition of the Hero’s service, experiences, and journey.
The potential Grand Prize Winner will be the eligible Hero who, based on the eligible submission materials concerning that Hero, in the judges’ determination best reflects the judging criteria as a whole.
The judging and selection process will be based solely on the eligible submission materials and the judging criteria described above. Whether an Entrant or Hero has agreed to or is willing to grant the Winner Publicity Rights or satisfy the reasonable cooperation requirements described in Sections 10 and 11 will not be considered in judging or selecting the potential Grand Prize Winner.
Selection by the judges does not, by itself, make an individual the confirmed Grand Prize Winner or entitle that individual to the Grand Prize. The individual selected by the judges will be designated as the potential Grand Prize Winner and must successfully complete the eligibility, verification, acceptance, license, story, publicity, reasonable cooperation, and documentation requirements described in Sections 10 and 11 before being confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receiving the Grand Prize.
In the event of a tie, Sponsor and/or the judges will reevaluate the tied Heroes based on Authenticity and Impact, and the Hero determined to best satisfy those criteria will be selected as the potential Grand Prize Winner. If a tie remains after application of those criteria, the tied Heroes will be reevaluated based on Storytelling, followed by Relevance, until the tie is resolved.
Sponsor’s and/or the judges’ decisions regarding eligibility, evaluation of submissions, application of the judging criteria, and selection of the potential Grand Prize Winner are final and binding, subject to applicable law.
The Promotion is not a random drawing. The number of submissions or Nominations received for an individual Hero will not increase that Hero’s likelihood of being selected.
If the potential Grand Prize Winner is unable or unwilling to satisfy any applicable eligibility, verification, acceptance, license, story, publicity, reasonable cooperation, or documentation requirement, including the required Winner Publicity Rights and reasonable cooperation requirements described in Sections 10 and 11, that individual will not be confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner or receive the Grand Prize. Sponsor may then select up to two (2) alternate potential Grand Prize Winners if necessary from the remaining eligible Heroes in accordance with the judging criteria described above.
10. Winner Notification and Verification
The potential Grand Prize Winner will be contacted by email using the contact information provided with the submission.
For a Self-Submission, Sponsor will contact the Entrant directly.
For a Nomination, Sponsor will contact the nominee to verify eligibility, confirm the submitted story and information, explain the requirements for accepting the Grand Prize, obtain the nominee’s agreement to the Winner Publicity Rights, and determine whether the nominee wishes to accept the Grand Prize.
To be confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receive the Grand Prize, a potential Grand Prize Winner must:
Meet all eligibility requirements;
Respond within five (5) calendar days of Sponsor’s initial notification, or within such other timeframe as Sponsor may specify in the notification;
Verify the accuracy of their submitted or nominated story and information;
Accept the Grand Prize;
Agree to and grant Sponsor the Winner Publicity Rights;
Reasonably cooperate with Sponsor in connection with the creation and use of the Grand Prize Winner feature, including photographs, videos, interviews, voice recordings, statements, and other promotional content as described in Section 11; and
Complete and return any affidavits, releases, publicity permissions, tax forms, or other documentation reasonably required by Sponsor.
Winner Information and Prize Fulfillment
As part of winner verification and prize fulfillment, Sponsor may require the potential Grand Prize Winner to provide information including, but not limited to:
First and last name;
Mailing address;
Email address;
Telephone number;
Pet’s name, if applicable;
Information regarding the pet’s food allergies or dietary restrictions, if applicable;
Information necessary to determine appropriate Wholesomes products, sizes, quantities, apparel sizes, or other prize selections; and
Any other information reasonably required by Sponsor for eligibility verification, prize fulfillment, or the Winner Publicity Rights expressly described in these Official Rules.
The potential Grand Prize Winner must provide complete and accurate information reasonably requested by Sponsor for verification and prize fulfillment. Information collected for winner verification and prize fulfillment will be handled in accordance with Sponsor’s Privacy Policy.
A potential Grand Prize Winner will not be confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner, and the Grand Prize will not be awarded to that individual, unless and until all applicable eligibility, verification, acceptance, documentation, license, story, publicity, and reasonable cooperation requirements described in these Official Rules have been satisfied. The Winner Publicity Rights and reasonable cooperation requirements are conditions of being confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receiving the Grand Prize and are not conditions of entering, submitting a Nomination or Self-Submission, being considered, or being judged for the Promotion.
If a potential Grand Prize Winner declines to grant the required license, story, or publicity rights, declines the Grand Prize, cannot be contacted, is determined to be ineligible, fails to respond within five (5) calendar days of Sponsor’s initial notification or within such other timeframe as Sponsor may specify, fails or declines to reasonably cooperate with Sponsor in connection with the creation or use of the Grand Prize Winner feature as described in Section 11, fails to provide required documentation or prize-fulfillment information, or otherwise fails to comply with these Official Rules, that individual will not be confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and will not receive the Grand Prize.
In such event, Sponsor may select an alternate potential Grand Prize Winner from the remaining eligible Heroes in order of evaluation in accordance with the judging criteria described in Section 9.
Sponsor may select up to two (2) alternate potential Grand Prize Winners if necessary.
11. Winner Story and Publicity Rights
The “Winner Publicity Rights” consist of the license, story, publicity, and related permissions described in this Section 11. As a condition of being confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receiving the Grand Prize, the potential Grand Prize Winner must agree to and grant the Winner Publicity Rights. The Winner Publicity Rights are not required to enter the Promotion, submit a Self-Submission or Nomination, receive consideration, or be considered during judging. They are required only after an individual has been selected as the potential Grand Prize Winner and only if that individual wishes to be confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receive the Grand Prize.
The confirmed Grand Prize Winner will be featured as part of the Wholesomes Heroes campaign using the rights granted under these Official Rules as a condition of receiving the Grand Prize.
As a condition of being confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receiving the Grand Prize, and where permitted by law, the Grand Prize Winner grants Midwestern Pet Foods and its affiliates, licensees, successors, and assigns a non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, edit, adapt, publish, display, distribute, and otherwise use the Grand Prize Winner’s submitted or nominated story, name, likeness, statements, biographical information, and photographs, videos, recordings, interviews, and other materials created, provided, or obtained in connection with the Promotion or Grand Prize Winner feature in any media, including but not limited to use in paid media and advertising campaigns, now known or later developed, in connection with the Wholesomes Heroes Promotion and other Wholesomes advertising, marketing, promotional, public relations, social media, website, email, and related activities, including future Veterans Day, Memorial Day, military appreciation, first responder, and other Wholesomes marketing campaigns, without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law.
Sponsor may edit, excerpt, adapt, format, or combine the foregoing materials for length, format, clarity, design, or production purposes, provided Sponsor does not knowingly materially misrepresent the Grand Prize Winner’s experiences or statements.
As part of the Grand Prize Winner feature and as a condition of being confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receiving the Grand Prize, the potential Grand Prize Winner agrees to reasonably cooperate with Sponsor in connection with the creation and use of promotional materials relating to the Wholesomes Heroes Promotion. Such cooperation may include providing or participating in photographs, videos, interviews, voice recordings, statements, additional biographical information, or other content reasonably requested by Sponsor.
The potential Grand Prize Winner may be required to confirm that they own or have obtained all necessary rights and permissions for any materials they provide and to complete any additional releases, permissions, or documentation reasonably required by Sponsor to create, use, publish, distribute, or otherwise exercise the Winner Publicity Rights with respect to such materials.
Any photographs, videos, interviews, recordings, statements, biographical information, or other materials created, provided, or obtained in connection with the Grand Prize Winner feature will be subject to the Winner Publicity Rights described in these Official Rules and may be used by Sponsor in accordance with this Section 11.
For a Self-Submission, the Entrant grants Sponsor the limited submission license described in Section 5. If selected as the potential Grand Prize Winner, the Entrant must separately agree to and confirm the Winner Publicity Rights described in this Section 11 as a condition of being confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receiving the Grand Prize.
For a Nomination, the nominee must personally grant Sponsor the applicable Winner Publicity Rights before the nominee can be confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner. The Entrant who submitted the Nomination does not grant these rights on behalf of the nominee.
If a potential Grand Prize Winner declines to grant or confirm the required license, story, or publicity rights, or fails or declines to reasonably cooperate with Sponsor in connection with the creation or use of the Grand Prize Winner feature as described in this Section 11, that individual will not be confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and will not receive the Grand Prize.
Sponsor may separately request permission from an Entrant whose Self-Submission is not selected as the Grand Prize Winner to feature that Entrant or submission in connection with the Wholesomes Heroes Promotion or other Wholesomes marketing activities. Sponsor will not publicly feature such a non-winning Self-Submission for advertising, marketing, promotional, or public-relations purposes unless the Entrant separately grants appropriate permission. Declining such a request will have no effect on eligibility or judging.
Sponsor will not publicly feature or use the story, name, likeness, or other promotional materials of a third-party nominee based solely on a Nomination submitted by another person. Sponsor will obtain appropriate permission directly from the nominee before publicly featuring the nominee or their story.
12. Marketing Communications
Entrants may receive a campaign-related thank-you email from Wholesomes acknowledging their participation in the Wholesomes Heroes Promotion and providing information directly related to the Promotion.
Receiving a campaign-related thank-you email does not enroll the Entrant in Wholesomes marketing communications and does not constitute consent to receive ongoing marketing or promotional communications.
Entrants may be provided with a separate opportunity to voluntarily opt in to receive marketing emails and other promotional communications from Wholesomes.
Opting in to marketing communications is entirely optional and is not required to participate in the Promotion, be considered for selection, or win the Grand Prize. Opting in or declining to opt in will have no effect on judging or an Entrant’s or Hero’s likelihood of being selected.
Entrants who separately elect to receive marketing communications may unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe mechanism provided in those communications.
13. Submission Requirements
Each Entrant represents and warrants that their submission:
Is truthful and accurate to the best of their knowledge;
Accurately reflects the Hero’s actual experiences;
Does not knowingly contain false, misleading, defamatory, fraudulent, or fabricated statements or information;
Does not violate the intellectual property, privacy, publicity, or other rights of any person or entity;
Does not contain material that is unlawful, threatening, hateful, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate;
Does not include classified, confidential, proprietary, medical, sensitive law-enforcement, emergency-response, military operational, or other sensitive information that the Entrant is not authorized to disclose or that is not reasonably necessary for the Promotion;
Does not include Social Security numbers, government identification numbers, financial-account information, medical records, or other highly sensitive personal information unless expressly requested by Sponsor and the Entrant is authorized to provide it; and
Otherwise complies with these Official Rules.
Entrants may use ordinary spelling, grammar, editing, or writing assistance in preparing a submission; however, such assistance may not be used to fabricate, materially alter, or misrepresent the Hero’s experiences or to present fictional events as true.
The use of artificial-intelligence tools or other writing-assistance technologies is permitted for ordinary editing, organization, spelling, grammar, or stylistic assistance, but such tools may not be used to invent experiences, events, accomplishments, quotations, facts, or other material information presented as true. The Entrant remains responsible for the truthfulness and accuracy of the final submission.
Sponsor reserves the right to request additional information reasonably necessary to verify a submission and, in its sole discretion, to remove from consideration, request modification of, or disqualify any submission that Sponsor determines violates these requirements or contains materially false, misleading, unauthorized, or inappropriate information.
14. Rights Granted by Entrants
For Self-Submissions, the Entrant grants Sponsor the limited submission license described in Section 5. If selected as the potential Grand Prize Winner, the Entrant must separately agree to the Winner Publicity Rights described in Section 11 as a condition of being confirmed as the Grand Prize Winner and receiving the Grand Prize.
For third-party Nominations, submission of a Nomination permits Sponsor to review and use the submitted information as reasonably necessary to administer the Promotion, evaluate the submission, consolidate information concerning the same Hero as described in Sections 4 and 9, and contact the nominee if selected as a potential Grand Prize Winner, as further described in Section 6. Submission of a Nomination does not grant Sponsor publicity or promotional rights on behalf of the nominee. Any public, advertising, marketing, or promotional use of the nominee’s story, name, likeness, statements, biographical information, or other personal information will be subject to permission obtained directly from the nominee.
Except with respect to the confirmed Grand Prize Winner as described in Section 11, Sponsor is not obligated to publish, feature, or otherwise publicly use any submitted story.
Sponsor will not publicly use a non-winning Self-Submission for advertising, marketing, promotional, or public-relations purposes unless Sponsor separately obtains appropriate permission from that Entrant as described in Sections 5 and 11.
15. Terms
Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Promotion if fraud, unauthorized human intervention, technical failures, natural disaster, pandemic, or any other factor beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control corrupts or affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity, judging, or proper operation of the Promotion.
Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any individual who tampers or attempts to tamper with the submission process, judging process, or operation of the Promotion; attempts to obtain an unfair advantage; submits fraudulent or misleading information; or otherwise violates these Official Rules.
Any attempt to deliberately damage any website associated with the Promotion or undermine the legitimate operation of the Promotion may violate criminal and civil laws. Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages and other remedies to the fullest extent permitted by law.
In the event the Promotion is terminated or modified before completion, Sponsor reserves the right, where feasible and appropriate, to select a potential Grand Prize Winner from among the eligible Heroes represented by eligible submissions received prior to the event giving rise to the termination or modification, using the judging criteria described in Section 9.
16. Limitation of Liability and Release
By participating in the Promotion, Entrants agree, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to release and hold harmless Sponsor and its subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers, and directors (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against claims, demands, losses, damages, costs, or expenses arising out of or relating to participation in the Promotion, submission or use of an entry, the judging or winner selection process, acceptance, possession, use, misuse, or delivery of any prize, or participation in any Promotion-related activity.
The Released Parties are not responsible for incorrect or inaccurate information; technical, website, network, email, or communications failures; unauthorized human intervention; technical or human errors in the administration or judging of the Promotion; lost, late, incomplete, damaged, delayed, misdirected, or undeliverable submissions or communications; prize delivery delays or failures beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control; or other circumstances beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control.
Nothing in these Official Rules is intended to waive or limit any right or remedy that cannot lawfully be waived or limited under applicable law.
17. Disputes
THIS PROMOTION AND THESE OFFICIAL RULES ARE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF INDIANA AND APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAW, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT APPLICABLE LAW REQUIRES OTHERWISE.
As a condition of participating in the Promotion, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, each Entrant agrees that any disputes, claims, or causes of action arising out of or relating to the Promotion, these Official Rules, or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the State of Indiana, unless applicable law provides the Entrant with a non-waivable right to bring a claim in another jurisdiction or forum.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any claims, judgments, and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with participation in the Promotion, excluding attorneys’ fees. Entrant waives any right to claim punitive, incidental, special, or consequential damages, or any other damages other than actual out-of-pocket costs, and waives any right to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased, except to the extent such limitations or waivers are prohibited by applicable law.
18. Privacy Policy
Information submitted in connection with the Promotion will be collected, used, and handled in accordance with Sponsor’s Privacy Policy.
By participating in the Promotion, Entrants acknowledge Sponsor’s Privacy Policy, available at:
https://midwesternpetfoods.com/privacy-policy/
Information submitted about a third-party nominee may be used as reasonably necessary to administer the Promotion, including to evaluate the Nomination, verify eligibility and submitted information, contact the nominee if selected as a potential Grand Prize Winner, and otherwise administer the Promotion.
Entrants are instructed not to submit highly sensitive personal information concerning a nominee except where expressly requested by Sponsor and where the Entrant is authorized to provide that information, as further described in Sections 6 and 13.
Submission of a third-party nominee’s information does not enroll the nominee in Wholesomes marketing communications or constitute the nominee’s consent to receive marketing or promotional communications.
Sponsor will not use a nominee’s contact information obtained solely through a third-party Nomination to send unrelated advertising or promotional communications unless the nominee separately provides any consent required by applicable law.
Submission of a Nomination does not constitute the nominee’s permission for Sponsor to publicly disclose, advertise, publish, or promote the nominee’s story or personal information. Any such public or promotional use will require appropriate permission obtained directly from the nominee.
If a nominee is selected as a potential Grand Prize Winner, Sponsor may collect additional information directly from the nominee as reasonably necessary for winner verification, prize fulfillment, and the license, story, and publicity permissions described in these Official Rules.
19. Winner List
To request the name of the confirmed Grand Prize Winner, contact Sponsor through:
https://wholesomespetfood.com/contact-us
Include “Winner List Request – Wholesomes Heroes Promotion” in the message.
Requests must be received within sixty (60) days after the Grand Prize Winner has been confirmed.
20. Sponsor
The Sponsor of the Promotion is:
Midwestern Pet Foods
9634 Hedden Rd
Evansville, IN 47725
United States
21. Platform Disclaimer
This Promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, or any other social media platform through which the Promotion may be advertised or promoted.
Entrants understand that information submitted through the official Promotion entry process is being provided to Sponsor and may be collected or processed through third-party service providers used by Sponsor to facilitate the Promotion.
By participating, Entrants agree, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to release applicable social media platforms from liability arising out of or relating to the Promotion.
ViralSweep is a third-party platform used by Sponsor to facilitate the Promotion and collection of submissions. ViralSweep is not the Sponsor of the Promotion and is not responsible for judging, winner selection, or prize fulfillment.
Any sharing, referral, social-media follow, social-media engagement, or other optional functionality made available through ViralSweep or another platform does not constitute an additional entry, provide additional points, affect the judging criteria, or increase an Entrant’s or Hero’s likelihood of being selected. In the event any platform feature, instruction, or user-interface element conflicts with these Official Rules, these Official Rules will control to the extent permitted by applicable law.
