News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
For more information, contact Lisa Behnke
Phone: 608-845-1900 ext. 5208
E-mail: lbehnke@agsource.com     

WORLD FORAGE ANALYSIS SUPERBOWL ANNOUNCES 2011 WINNERS

MADISON, WISCONSIN – Almost 400 entries from 23 states competed for top honors and over $22,000 in cash prizes at the 28th annual World Forage Analysis Superbowl.  Kelli Hinman of Wheatland, Wyo., was named Champion Forage Producer and received a $2,500 check from Nutrisave Forage Management Systems. Bappe Farm of Riverton, Wyo. was named Champion First Time Entrant and received $1,500 from Kuhn North America. Champion forage producers were honored on October 5, at the Mycogen World Forage Analysis Superbowl Awards Luncheon, held at World Dairy Expo. 

Other champions include:
Dairy Hay: S & B Dairy, Sigel, Ill.   
Dairy Haylage: Corner Oak Farm, Grand Blanc, Mich.   
Standard Corn Silage: Kim Leudeman, Hersey, Mich.   
Brown Midrib Corn Silage: Jon Merrell, Wolcott, N.Y.
Grass Hay: Danko Farms, Powell, Wyo. 
Commercial Hay: Hardrock Farms, Wheatland, Wyo.   
Commercial Baleage: Pounder Bros Inc., Delavan, Wis.
Quality Counts Awards - Corn Silage: Valley Hill Farms, Kendall, Wis. 
Quality Counts Awards - Alfalfa/Grass: Sugar Creek Farms, Dansville, N.Y

The first place entrant in each category received a check for $1,500. Second place winners received $500, third place were awarded $250, and $100 was given to fourth place finishers.  Quality Counts Awards reward quality forage production; however, the criteria for selection are unknown to contestants at the time of entry. There are two categories. This year’s corn silage winner was selected based on percentage starch, while the Alfalfa/Grass winner was selected based on percentage ash. Croplan Genetics presented each of the Quality Counts winners with a $1000 cash prize.  

The World Forage Analysis Superbowl (WFAS) invites growers from across the United States and Canada to send their best samples in either dairy or commercial divisions. Dairy samples are judged on lab analysis (60%), visual judging (20%), herd production information (10%), and calculated milk per ton (10%). Commercial entries are judged on lab analysis (70%) and visual judging (30%). Visual judging consists of analyzing the color, texture, maturity and leafiness, depending on the category. AgSource Laboratories, in Bonduel, Wis., tested the samples.

The WFAS provides a unique opportunity for World Dairy Expo visitors to view quality forage entries, hear forage experts speak about forage production and milk profitability, and ask questions about forage research. All Forage Tool Box seminars have been approved for credit with the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS). Find a complete list of seminars at www.foragesuperbowl.org.

Generous sponsors and capable volunteers make WFAS possible. Organizing partners include AgSource Cooperative Services, DairyBusiness Communications, Hay and Forage Grower/Penton Media, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, University of Wisconsin College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and World Dairy Expo.

Top Five Placings In Each Category

Dairy Hay – Sponsored by Syngenta
1st Place – S & B Dairy, Sigel, Illinois
2nd Place – Evergreen View of Waldo, Wisconsin
3rd Place – Old Settlers Dairy LLC of Denmark, Wisconsin  
4th Place – Benjamin K Fischer Jr of Greenfork, Indiana      
5th Place – Smil Aire Holsteins of Plymouth, Wisconsin        

Dairy Haylage – Sponsored by Kent Feeds
1st Place – Corner Oak Farm of Grand Blanc, Michigan       
2nd Place – S & S Ag  of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin   
3rd Place – Alberta Valley Ag of Elberta, Utah         
4th Place – Olson Farms of Lena, Wisconsin 
5th Place – Lakeside Dairy Farm Inc of Mineral, Virginia      

Dairy Corn Silage (Brown Midrib [BMR]) – Sponsored by Mycogen
1st Place – Jon Merrell of Wolcott, New York
2nd Place – True Farms Inc of Perry, New York       
3rd Place – Four Mile Creek Dairy LLC of Rice Lake, Wisconsin     
4th Place – Jason Stoltzfus Farm of Waterville, New York   
5th Place – Trierweiler Dairy Inc, of Portland, Michigan        

Dairy Corn Silage (Standard)Sponsored by Ag-Bag
1st Place – Kim Leudeman of Hersey, Michigan      
2nd Place – B & D Dairy of Pound, Wisconsin        
3rd Place – Hickory Gables Inc, of Hickory Corners, Michigan        
4th Place – Jon Merrell of Wolcott, New York          
5th Place – Gernaat Dairy LLC of Falmouth, Michigan          

Commercial HaySponsored by Bridon Cordage
1st Place – Hardrock Farms, Wheatland, Wyoming                                       
2nd Place – Dart Hay Service, of Streator, Illinois                             
3rd Place – Danko Farms of Powell, Wyoming                       
4th Place – Jerome Kampwerth of Carlyle, Illinois                             
5th Place – Bappe Farm of Riverton, Wyoming                                               

Commercial BaleageSponsored by W-L Research
1st Place – Pounder Bros Inc. Delavan, WI
2nd Place – Summit Farms, Plymouth, Wisconsin                             
3rd Place – Houmes Farms, Veedersburg, Indiana                               
4th Place – Vista Grande Farms LLC, Fleetwood, Pennsylvania                    
5th Place – Kendall Guither, Walnut, Illinois  

Grass Hay Sponsored by Barenbrug USA
1st Place – Danko Farms, Powell, Wyoming
2nd Place – David Olson of Lena, Wisconsin                        
3rd Place – Pounder Bros Inc of Delevan, Wisconsin            
4th Place – Church Farms of Grand Marsh, Wisconsin          
5th Place – Hardrock Farms of Wheatland, Wyoming                          

Entry forms for the 2012 World Forage Analysis Superbowl will be available at www.foragesuperbowl.org.

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