This item has been supplied by a forage marketer and has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hay & Forage Grower.

Eighty-two entries vied for cash prizes totaling $2,550 in the third annual Sealpro^® Forage Contest during World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA. Three categories were placed by an independent nutrition consultant: Alfalfa Haylage, Winter Forage, and Corn Silage. Results were based 60% on a Rock River Laboratory, Inc. complete lab analysis, 30% on actual sample inspection, and 10% on drive over shape, face management, and safety.

“Our goal for the contest was to engage everyone through sight, smell, touch, and science,” said Connie Kuber, Connor Agriscience. “There is always something new to learn about forage, no matter how long you’ve been making it. Every year Mother Nature presents a different harvest scenario. The better prepared we are to meet that challenge through planning, communicating with our harvest crews, and keeping an eye on harvest method, the more dry matter and nutrients we’ll have. Our winners are great examples of that kind of care and attention to detail.”

Contest results were announced February 8 at a ceremony in the Sealpro^® display just west of the show’s Dairy Center. Winners received a plaque and prize money in each category: First place $500, Second place $250, Third place $100.

ALFALFA HAYLAGE

First place: Chowchilla North Dairy, Chowchilla, CA

Second place: Moonshine Dairy, Crows Landing, CA

Third place: RuAnn Dairy, Riverdale, CA

Honorable Mention: Bar E Dairy, Kingsburg, CA; Chowchilla South Dairy, Chowchilla, CA

WINTER FORAGE

First place: Rollin Valley Farm, Riverdale, CA

Second place: Grand View Dairy, LeGrand, CA

Third place: Maddox Dairy, Riverdale, CA

Honorable Mention: Chowchilla South Dairy, Chowchilla, CA; Moonshine Dairy, Crows Landing, CA

CORN SILAGE

First place: Morning Star Dairy, Riverdale, CA

Second place: Tri Bak Dairy, Dinuba, CA

Third place: Fresno State Dairy, Fresno, CA

Honorable Mention: RuAnn Dairy, Riverdale, CA; Chowchilla South Dairy, Chowchilla, CA

The Sealpro^® You Be the Judge Contest was also held during Expo in the Sealpro^® display. Entrants placed four corn silage samples using the same criteria as the Sealpro^® Forage Contest. Twenty-two entries competed for prize money at each level: First place $250, Second place $100, Third place $50.

FFA CHAPTER TEAM

First place: Porterville FFA, Porterville, CA

Second place: Livingstone FFA, Livingstone, CA

Third place: Strathmore FFA, Strathmore, CA

COLLEGIATE TEAM

First Place: CSUFresno Animal Science Quadrathlon, Fresno, CA

INDIVIDUAL

First place: Tony Lopes, Gustine, CA

Second place: Phillip Jardon, Exeter, CA

Third place: Christopher Young, Kingsburg, CA