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This was the second year for Fair Grove forage producer Stephen Highfill to enter the Ozark Empire Fair Hay Contest. He competed in the grass hay and alfalfa categories. Photo courtesy of Tim Schnakenberg.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension specialists Tim Schnakenberg and Reagan Bluel presided over the 2026 Ozark Empire Fair (OEF) Hay Contest, which had record-breaking numbers this year.
They served as co-superintendents of the annual event held in partnership with the Custom Laboratory of Monett. There were 68 entries from 32 participants in 11 counties. The contest, which began in 1985, is open to any Missouri producer.
“These hay producers are honing their skills to increase hay quality for livestock, and the contest helps them and others to learn the value of hay quality through laboratory analysis,” Schnakenberg says.
Since 2017, the contest evaluates hay using relative forage quality (RFQ) numbers based on total digestible nutrient (TDN) and neutral detergent fiber to estimate dry matter intake.
“There were some outstanding hay entries this year which helps to show that Missouri producers can achieve quality hay if they work at it. An RFQ of 257 for first cutting alfalfa is amazing,” Schnakenberg says.
This entry will be going on to the World Dairy Expo hay contest “superbowl” in Wisconsin this year.
Other partners in the event include Crown Power & Equipment, Green Seed Co., MFA Inc., Missouri Dairy and Pennington Seed. Other MU Extension specialists who assisted include Ian McGregor, Josh Dunn and Kyle Whtaker. Robert Smith, FFA agricultural adviser at Billings, also assisted.
The OEF Haylage Show Championship was Groves View Dairy in Billings. The dairy also won the titles in 2020-2024. Their haylage had a RFQ of 225, a crude protein level of 20.4 and TDN of 68.9.
The OEF Championship for Dry Hay went to repeat winners Glenn and Toni Obermann of Monett. The Obermanns won in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025. They posted a RFQ of 257 this year and a TDN of 72.2 to retain their title.
Top 3 winners in the Class I legumes category: Glenn and Toni Obermann, first, with a RFQ of 257; Charles and Brenda Krueger, second; and Bobby Fortner, third.
Class II cool-season grasses winners: Jerry Staiger, first; Stephen Highfill, second; and Ethan Keltner, third.
Winners in the Class III warm-season perennial category: David Mareth, first and second, and Gene Cowherd, third.
Glenn and Toni Obermann also took first in the Class IV grass/legume category followed by Ethan Keltner, second, and Kevin Dotson, third.
Mike Meier took first and second place in the Class V summer and winter annual grass category, with Linda Mitchell placing third.
Glenn and Toni Obermann took championship honors in the overall dry hay category. Charles and Brenda Krueger took Reserve Champion honors.
Groves View Dairy took first and second honors in the Class I legume haylage category followed by Wayne Martin with third. Groves View had a RFQ of 225 to earn the top honor. Kevin Dotson earned first and second honors in the Class II grass haylage category. Leon Martin took first in the Class IV grass-legume haylage.
Wayne Martin took first in Class V winter/summer annual haylage, followed by Groves View Dairy at second and Tracy Killion in third. Groves View also earned the championship and reserve champion title in the haylage contest.
Glenn and Toni Obermann captured another win with alfalfa in the Class I dry hay legume class. Other winners were Charles and Brenda Krueger, Bobby Fortner, David Hazelrigg, Lane Mashburn, Stephen Highfill, Scott Erwin, Kevin Dotson and Sam Ware.
In the Class II cool-season grass category, honors went to Lindell Mitchell, Kevin Dotson, Scott Maples, Stephen Highfill, Tracy Killion, Glenn Marcum, Charles & Brenda Krueger, Ethan Keltner, Groves View Dairy, Ron and Cindy Murphy, Fire Sweep Ranch, Doug Bowerman, Lane Mashburn, David Mareth, Mike Stacey, David Tiller and Jason Hudson.
In the Class IV grass-legume group, winners were Glenn and Toni Obermann, Ethan Keltner, Kevin Dotson and David Hazelrigg.
In Class V summer/winter annual category, winners were Mike Meier, Lindell Mitchell, Drew Meier, Greg Loftis, David Tiller, Dustin Heriford and Sam Ware.
Photo
This was the second year for Fair Grove forage producer Stephen Highfill to enter the Ozark Empire Fair Hay Contest. He competed in the grass hay and alfalfa categories. Photo courtesy of Tim Schnakenberg.
