A total of $18,000 in prizes was awarded today at World Ag Expo to the winners of the 2010 World Ag Expo Forage Challenge, presented by Mycogen Seeds.
Finalists were chosen out of the 39 entries from seven Western states that entered the challenge. The competition challenged farmers and ranchers to enter the bounty of their labor to see who produced the highest-quality forages in the West.
Finalists will be on display in World Ag Expo’s New Product Pavilion on “R” St. and Expo Ln. during the Expo. Attendees can visit educational displays and attend seminars to learn more about forage production.
“As presenting sponsor, Mycogen Seeds is pleased to have played a part in making World Ag Expo’s Forage Challenge a reality,” says Greg Cannon, silage marketing specialist at Mycogen Seeds. “We congratulate the winners and finalists for their dedication to producing high quality forages.”
Lallemand Animal Nutrition North America sponsored the $18,000 in contest awards and prizes. First place winners in all three categories received $2,000, while second place winners were awarded $1,500 and third place winners $1,000.
“Producing the best quality forages possible is the foundation for profitability on the dairy,” said Dr. Bob Charley, Forage Products Manager, Lallemand Animal Nutrition. “Lallemand hopes that this new event will help raise the profile of this key issue and increase the focus on honing best practice forage management skills at all levels.”
Following are the winners of the 2010 World Ag Expo Forage Challenge:
Alfalfa Hay Winners
- 1st Place- Lazy 2K Livestock, Kellie Hinman, Wheatland, WY.
- 2nd Place- Roberti Ranch, Dave Roberti, Loyalton, CA
- 3rd Place- King Productions, David King, Malin, OR
Corn Silage Winners
- 1st Place – 1 Royal Turf, Kelly Callahan, Royal City, WA,
- 2nd Place- Ever May Farms, David Evers, Grove, OR
- 3rd Place – Weststyn Dairy, Jake Weststyn, Linden, CA
Brown Mid-Rib Silage (BMR)
- 1st Place- Faria Dairy, Nelson Faria, Royal City, WA,
- 2nd Place- Moo Mtn. Milk, Ray Robinson, Burley, ID
- 3rd Place- Fernoak Dairy, Greg Fernandes, Tulare, CA
“Mycogen Seeds is pleased to have the opportunity to help establish this exciting new event at World Ag Expo and focus attention on the production of high-quality forages in the West,” says Greg Cannon, Mycogen Seeds silage marketing specialist.
In 2009, World Ag Expo, Mycogen Seeds and Hay & Forage Grower Magazine invited farmers and ranchers from 11 western states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming—to enter the 2010 World Ag Expo Forage Challenge by submitting 2009 samples from their bales or silos to the University of California, Davis. Entries were judged in three categories: alfalfa hay, standard corn silage and brown mid-rib (BMR) corn silage.
“This new event allowed farmers and ranchers to demonstrate their skills in producing high-quality forage, while challenging each other to some friendly competition at the same time,” said Bernie Cargle, 2010 World Ag Expo Chairman. “We are thrilled with the success of the event this year and are excited to see the reaction from our attendees as they view the samples.”
The 43rd annual World Ag Expo 2010, powering global agriculture, will run February 9–11 at the International Agri-Center show grounds in Tulare, Calif. An estimated 100,000 visitors from 67 countries are expected to attend World Ag Expo this year. The expo is the largest annual agricultural show of its kind with 1,600 exhibitors displaying cutting-edge agricultural technology and equipment on 2.6 million square feet of show grounds.
World Ag Expo tickets are $12 at the gate. Attendees who register for their World Ag Expo Collectors’ badges at one of the three onsite registration centers will receive complimentary admission to West Coast Nationals on the same day and will be automatically entered to win a Yamaha Rhino 700 FI 4×4, “Free Fuel for a Year” from Fleet Card Fuels and 1-year use of a Massey Ferguson 2680 HD. Attendees are encouraged to use the complimentary World Ag Expo Park and Ride buses.