Hoosier Hay Contest winners announced

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Winners of the Hoosier Hay Contest were announced at the 2024 Hay Quality seminar.

The contest encourages Indiana producers to cultivate higher-quality hay.

Purdue Extension supported the contest, which was sponsored by SureTech Laboratories, Hutson Inc., Cisco Seeds, the Indiana Beef Cattle Association, the Indiana Dairy Producers and the Indiana Sheep Association.

Seventy-one samples from 26 producers, representing 16 different Indiana counties, were submitted to the contest.

Winner List

Grass Hay

• First place — Grant Weyer, Dubois County.

• Second place — Loren Coon, Montgomery County.

• Third place — Grant Weyer, Dubois County.

Legume Hay

• First place — Martru LLC, Marshall County.

• Second place — Wesley Swindell, Hancock County.

• Third place — Wesley Swindell, Hancock County.

Mixed Hay

• First place — Troy Schipper, Miami County.

• Second place — Wesley Swindell, Hancock County.

• Third place — Roger Robinson, Orange County.

Grass Baleage

• First place — Kevin Abbot, Clark County.

• Second place — High Steaks Farm, Clark County.

• Third place — High Steaks Farm, Clark County.

Legume Baleage

• First place — High Steaks Farm, Clark County.

Mixed Hay Baleage

• First place — Kevin Abbot, Clark County.

• Second place — High Steaks Farm, Clark County.

• Third place — High Steaks Farm, Clark County.

Prize money went to first-, second- and third-place entries in both hay and baleage categories. First place received $250 and a one-year IFC membership, and second and third place received $150 and $100, respectively.

“Indiana Forage Council directors Nick Minton and Jason Tower have done an excellent job working to support producers in understanding their forage quality through the hay quality contest,” said Anna Morrow, IFC president.

“They have used a friendly competition to encourage better practices and to educate producers on the importance of hay quality.”