Free hay testing offered through the annual Hay Show

by Aaron Low - Cherokee County Ag/NR Extension Agent

A great and easy way to get your hay tested for free is to enter either a square bale or a large trash bag full of hay in the Cherokee County AgriLife Extension Agency’s annual Hay Show and Sale. Participants will be provided with a detailed analysis of any submitted hay crops. Hay samples must be produced in Cherokee County.

Hay entry drop off locations are at the Extension Office, 165 E. Sixth St., Suite 104, Rusk; Hicks Farm and Ranch, 209 Cooper St., Alto; Farm and Ranch Feed 209 S. Bolton St., Jacksonville; Steele’s Feed and Seed, 115 S. Georgia St., Troup; and Tri-County Livestock Market, 23733 U.S. Hwy. 79 N, New Summerfield.

The deadline for entering hay samples is Tuesday, Sept. 8.

For more information, contact Aaron Low at the Cherokee County Extension Office, (903) 683-5416 or arlow@ag.tamu.edu.

Testing results will be given during the annual Hay Show & Sale, to be held on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Cherokee County Exposition Center in Jacksonville. Dinner will begin at 6 p.m. and with the auction starting at 7 p.m.

The Grand Champion and Reserve Champion hay along with the blue ribbon hay will be auctioned during this event. All proceeds of this event will go to benefit the youth of Cherokee County.

The funds raised from the benefit auction will be used to support the Scholarship program, which benefits the youth of Cherokee County.

To date, $217,000 has been awarded to the youth of Cherokee County through the funds raised at the Cherokee County Hay Show and Auction.