This year’s World Forage Analysis Superbowl brought in 293 forage samples from 18 states. Champions and the top five finishers of each contest categories were announced at a luncheon on Wednesday. For the second consecutive year, Grand Champion Forage Producer went to Rodney Archer of Alamosa, Colo., for his sample of commercial hay.

The prize for the first-time entrant went to Martin Farms in Strykersville, N.Y., for their sample of standard corn silage.

More than $26,000 was awarded to the contest winners. Samples from eight different categories were visually evaluated and analyzed for quality at Dairyland Labs in DePere, Wis. Category winners were as follows.

Champion Baleage: Jacobs Hillview Dairy, Hilbert, Wis.

Champion Commercial Hay: Lazy 2K Livestock, Wheatland, Wyo.

Champion Dairy Hay: Church Farm, Grand Marsh, Wis.

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

Champion Alfalfa Haylage: Rainbows End, Waldo, Wis.

Champion Mixed/Grass Haylage: Albano Farms SRJF Inc., Stamford, N.Y.

Champion Standard Corn Silage: Sand Creek Dairy, Hastings, Mich.

Champion Brown Midrib Corn Silage: Zirbel Dairy Farm, DePere, Wis.

Awards for the Quality Counts category, for which the metric changes every year, were given for both alfalfa/haylage and corn silage divisions. This year, the category was based on digestible organic matter index (DOMI). Zirbel Dairy Farm claimed the Quality Counts title in the corn silage division, and Jenson Family Farms of Elk Mound, Wis., took home the award in the hay/haylage division.

The author is an associate editor for Hay & Forage Grower magazine.