Two bales of hay are sitting in a field.
Producers in McLennan County can drop off hay samples for the Aug. 22 McLennan County Hay Show from July 8 until July 24 at nine locations countywide. (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife)

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in McLennan County will accept hay samples from July 8-July 24 at nine locations for analysis and judging in the annual McLennan County Hay Show on Aug. 22.

There is a $5 charge for samples needing near infrared analysis, such as Bermuda grass, bluestems, Bahia grass and legumes. There is a $15 charge for other samples. Checks must be made payable to “Ag Program Account.”

Paperwork and checks must accompany each submitted sample. The lab results will be returned to the AgriLife Extension office to be reviewed and then mailed to sample owners.

Hay sample drop-off locations

Forage samples and checks may be dropped off at the following locations:

  • AgriLife Extension office in McLennan County, 4224 Cobbs Drive, Waco.
  • Watson Feed Store, 308 E. Texas Ave., Mart.
  • Buzbee Feed and Seed, 1701 S. Loop 340, Waco.
  • McGregor General Store, 1200 E. McGregor Drive, McGregor.
  • Brazos Feed and Supply, 1505 La Salle Ave., Waco.
  • Miller Hay and Feed, 14932 Interstate Highway 35, Elm Mott.
  • West Feeds, 107 S. Roberts St., West.
  • China Spring Country Store, 9030 China Spring Road, China Spring.
  • Bar None Country Store, 7991 N. State Highway 6, Speegleville.

Round bale samples should not be taken from the outer 4-6 inches and square bale samples should be from the middle of the bale. Participants need to fill one half of a feed sack with the sample and write their name, sample location and type of grass on the sack.

2024 McLennan County Hay Show

The hay show will be held on Aug. 29 at 5:30 p.m. at the Timbercrest Baptist Church, 1625 Crow St., in Waco. Onsite registration and a barbecue dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the educational program will follow at 6 p.m.

The cost to attend the show is $20 and persons can RSVP by calling the office at 254-757-5180. The deadline to RSVP is Aug.16. There will be one general Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education unit available for private pesticide applicator license holders.

The awards for the “Best in Show” will be given for the following categories:

  • Bermuda grass.
  • C-4 perennial, which includes switchgrass, big bluestem and Indian grass, Bahia grass and Dallis grass.
  • C-3 grass, which includes wheat, oats, rye, barley, triticale and annual ryegrass.
  • Legumes.

For more information, contact the AgriLife Extension office in McLennan County at 254-757-5180.

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