Quality Hay Should Be Entered In Ozark Empire Fair Hay Show; Deadline For Entering Hay Show Is July 10
Mike Coble, Aldrich displays his 2014 Ozark Empire Fair Champion hay.
Photo credit: MU Extension
MT. VERNON, MO.
Individuals that are proud of the hay they put up in late April and early May should consider entering the 2015 Ozark Empire Fair Hay Show.
“The show is an excellent opportunity to show that hay produced in this part of the state is as good as it is anywhere,” said Eldon Cole, livestock specialist, University of Missouri Extension.
The hay show was started 30 years ago as an educational effort to familiarize farmers with the objective form of determining hay quality: a laboratory test.
“Many folks still feel that the best test of hay is to smell, look and feel,” said Cole.
With that in mind, the hay show incorporated both methods in the final evaluation. Sixty percent of the final score is based on the lab test for relative feed value. Forty percent is subjective critique by the judge for aroma, color, purity and condition of the hay.
The deadline for entering the hay in the show is July 10. The hay must be grown in Missouri and harvested in 2015.
Classes are set up to legumes, cool-season grass, warm-season grass, grass-legume mix, and summer/winter annual grass. Either small rectangular or large hay packages will be accepted. High moisture, wrapped bales are not accepted at the Ozark Empire Fair but may be entered in the Missouri State Fair.
Sampling the hay must be done by an extension specialist with the University of Missouri. The entry fee is $21, which covers the cost of the lab analysis. One bale from the lot tested will need to be taken to the Ozark Empire Fair for the final judging on July 30.
The Ozark Empire Fair and Missouri State Fair hay shows only provide educational information on proper evaluation measures, and they can be helpful marketing opportunities to sell the hay.
In addition to the above shows in 2014, two southwest Missouri entries were made in the World Forage Analysis Superbowl at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI. The College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout entered a fescue sample that placed second in the grass division. Glenn and Toni Obermann, Monett placed seventh in the alfalfa competition.
For specific questions regarding the hay show, contact the nearest extension specialist. The entry form for the Ozark Empire Fair is available online at http://www.ozarkempirefair.com/p/fair/livestock/livestockentryforms - scroll down to the bottom of the page under 2015 Entry Forms and you will find hayshow. ∆