Winners from each category will receive a Progressive Forage Grower hat, and the top vote-getter overall will receive a $50 gift certificate.
Click here to view a slideshow of all entries.
People and animals with hay category
The winner of this category was “Two dogs on round bale,” submitted by Heidi Lengel of Burlington, Colorado.
The dogs, Beau and Daisy, were in rare photogenic form on this beautiful fall day. Heidi says, "My aunt and I were out driving with two dogs, looking for bales with great backgrounds. And we coaxed a lot and laughed a lot." The picture was taken east of the Republican River bottom in southern Yuma County.
Runner-up and shout-out in this category was “Napping with tractor,” submitted by Andre Aguiar from Bullard, Texas. Andre says, “My brother-in-law (Robson Palermo, professional bullrider) was loading bales on the trailer, and his son, my nephew Mateus Palermo, fell asleep.”
Decorated hay bale category
The winner of this category was “Mater,” submitted by Wyatt Vincent from Vt Bale Creations in Vergennes, Vermont.
Runner-up and shout-out in this category was “Barn,” also submitted by Wyatt Vincent from Vt Bale Creations. Wyatt had several entries in the decorated bale category and produces several hay creations every year for neighbors and friends.
Equipment and hay category
The winner of this category was “Round bales near the trees,” submitted by Chris Lindell of Russell, Pennsylvania. The clear blue sky made it beautiful baling weather. Lindell says, "I operate a custom haying business in northwest Pennsylvania and southwest New York. This picture was taken at the end of May 2014 at Meldick Farms Specialty Meats in Akeley, Pennsylvania. My girlfriend, Billi Jo, hopped out of the tractor to stretch her legs and started snapping pictures of me baling."
Runner-up and shout-out in this category was “Red semi with hay trailer,” submitted by Ed Vander Zwaag from Holland, Michigan.
Editor’s pick
There were so many great photos entered this year it was difficult to choose my favorite. However, I wanted to give a shout-out to “Swather in the field,” submitted by Tim Hall of Idalia, Colorado. His photo made me feel like it was taken from a nesting pheasant’s point of view.
Grand champion
The photo submitted by Heidi Lengel, “Two dogs on round bale,” was the top vote-getter and won the overall contest by a landslide. Congratulations, Heidi!
I’d like to say “thanks” to all those who submitted photos and participated by voting in this year’s contest. The contest gets bigger and better every year, thanks to you. I know the next hay crop is likely a few (or several) months away for most of us, but remember to pack your cameras during haying season – after all, it’s what cell phones were created for. FG
PHOTO COLLAGES
TOP: Category winners.
BOTTOM: Runner-up entries for each category.
