GOSHEN COUNTY ­– The 2017 Goshen County Fair Hay Bale Decorating Contest almost didn’t happen, according to Kelly Greenwald of the James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center near Lingle.
“SAREC has participated for the last two years,” Greenwald said. “We were trying to sign up and found out they weren’t having it. We thought we should sponsor it.”
The decorated bales sit directly south of the Rendezvous Center and vary in theme from the upcoming eclipse, to a flower garden, a groovy Volkswagen bus featuring local FFA leaders Jay Clapper and Jason Groene, and a nod to American agriculture.
SAREC Director John Tanaka of Laramie judged the entries in order to provide a neutral and unbiased opinion. Top placers receive

cash awards.
While there are only a handful of hay bales to admire in 2017 – which Greenwald attributes to a late start in advertising due to this year’s unique circumstances – she is hopeful the contest will continue
to grow.
“We have visions of 20 or more participants,” Greenwald said. “We want to have so many (entries), we have to put them all over the fairgrounds.”
The contest is free to participate, and open to all, including individuals, church groups, 4-H clubs, businesses and organizations. SAREC will provide the hay bales.
“I hope people will watch for next year’s contest. We’ll try to get started earlier,” Greenwald said. “I just think it’s fun. It’s great advertising and it adds to the fair atmosphere.”