The World Forage Analysis Superbowl welcomed 343 entries in its 38th year. Announced at the winner’s luncheon on Wednesday were the top prizes for the best forages in the country. Leading the way was a sample for Herrington Farms Inc., in Troy, N.Y. That was a brown midrib (BMR) corn silage sample that took home the $2,500 grand prize.

An award was also given for the top first-time entrant. The $2,000 prize for that category went to Marty Farms of Sterling, Ohio.

Judged in eight different categories and with more than $26,000 awarded in total, the samples are evaluated based on the criteria of both lab characteristics and visual observations. Category winners were as follows.

Champion Baleage: Jenks Jerseys, Marathon, Wis.

Champion Commercial Hay: Hardrock Farms Inc., Wheatland, Wyo.

Champion Dairy Hay: Olson Farms, Lena, Wis.

Champion Grass Hay: Cozy Nook Farm, Waukesha, Wis.

Champion Alfalfa Haylage: Todd Mark, Elmwood, Wis.

Champion Mixed Grass Haylage: Opportunity Acres, Lena, Wis.

Champion Standard Corn Silage: Egan Family Dairy, Omro, Wis.

Champion Brown Midrib Corn Silage: Rothlisberger Dairy, Upper Sandusky, Ohio

In 2021, awards were also given for quality counts competitions. In the corn silage division, Kensinger Farms of Martinsburg, Pa., took first place while the Quality Counts Hay or Haylage award went to Legacy Farms of Shell Lake, Wis.

Hoard’s at Expo is sponsored by Agri-Plastics Group of Companies

The author is a dairy farmer in Kansas and a former associate editor at Hoard’s Dairyman.