By Blake Jackson
With hay season now underway, producers are encouraged to start planning ahead if they want to participate in the Ozark Empire Fair Hay Contest, according to University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Tim Schnakenberg.
The deadline to enter the contest is July 17, and farmers interested in participating should contact their local University of Missouri Extension Center. Extension specialists can also assist producers in collecting core samples from the required 10-bale entry.
The hay contest will be featured during the 2026 Ozark Empire Fair, scheduled for July 30 through August 8 at the fairgrounds in Springfield, Missouri.
Schnakenberg noted that several new awards will be introduced for 2026. Sponsors are offering a variety of prizes, including cash awards, net wrap, orchardgrass seed, hay testing services, and gift cards.
The grand champion will receive net wrap along with seed. Additional ribbons and premium payments will be awarded to the top six entries in each category.
Both dry hay and haylage are eligible for submission, including small square bales and large bale formats. Producers entering haylage are advised to allow approximately four weeks before collecting samples to ensure proper preparation.
Entries are divided into multiple forage categories such as legumes, cool-season grasses, warm-season perennial grasses, grass-legume mixtures, and summer or winter annual grasses.
The fair also features an educational hay exhibit showcasing exhibitor information, including forage test results from Custom Laboratory in Monett.
Due to space limitations, only select top-quality samples are displayed. Many past participants report that the exhibit has helped improve marketing opportunities for their hay.
Judging is based primarily on relative forage quality (RFQ), along with other key test factors including moisture, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and total digestible nutrients (TDN). All forage must be harvested in Missouri during 2026.
Producers are limited to two entries per class and only one entry per field per cutting.
For additional details, producers can contact Schnakenberg at the Stone County MU Extension office in Galena at 417-357-6812.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ianchrisgraham
Categories: Missouri, Crops, Hay & Forage