Winners Announced at 2025 Pennsylvania Hay Show

Thursday, August 28, 2025

The 2025 Pennsylvania Hay Show, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council, took place during Ag Progress Days and drew a strong turnout despite the unpredictable start to the hay season. A total of 58 entries were submitted, showcasing the efforts of producers across the state.

Entries were evaluated on both visual quality and chemical analysis, with ribbons and premiums awarded to the top three placings in each class. Classes with more than five entries recognized first through fifth places, and all participants received detailed forage quality reports.

To ensure fairness, entries containing unlisted species were disqualified, while samples entered under the wrong cutting classification were reassigned to their proper category.

Section I - Field Cured

Class 2 (Alfalfa, Later Cutting): 1st - Dave Sollenberger, Williamsburg; 2nd - Robert Reed, Danville.
Class 4 (Grass-Alfalfa Mix, First Cutting): 1st - Robert Reed, Danville; 2nd - James Heimer, Pen Argyl; 3rd - Dennis Newhard, Nazareth; 4th - Douglas Newhard, Bath; 5th - Tom Hojnowski, Canton.
Class 6 (Grass-Alfalfa Mix, Later Cutting): 1st - Ben Gordon, Huntingdon; 2nd - Robert Reed, Danville; 3rd - Nevin Rice, Blain; 4th - Tom Brodzina, Warriors Mark; 5th - Scott Sparenberg, Danville.
Class 8 (Clover-Grass Mix, Any Cutting): 1st - Tom Hojnowski, Canton.
Class 9 (Orchardgrass, First Cutting): 1st - James Heimer, Pen Argyl; 2nd - Caleb Jackson, Canton; 3rd - Robert Reed, Danville; 4th - Tyler Shaw, Harrisburg.
Class 10 (Timothy, First Cutting): 1st - Lynn Horst, Gettysburg; 2nd - Robert Reed, Danville.
Class 11 (Other Grass, First Cutting): 1st - Caleb Jackson, Canton.
Class 12 (Mixed Grass, First Cutting): 1st - Tom Hojnowski, Canton; 2nd - Robert Reed, Danville; 3rd - Michael Firstine, Womelsdorf; 4th - Brian Hoerner, Hershey; 5th - Caleb Jackson, Canton.
Class 13 (Grass, Later Cutting): 1st - Tom Venesky, Wapwallopen - Grand Champion Section I; 2nd - Tanner Freakenfield, Souderton; 3rd - James Heimer, Pen Argyl; 4th - Jacob Vough, Markleton; 5th - Jeff Bloss, Wapwallopen.

Section II - Heat/Mechanically Dried or Preserved

Class 22 (Alfalfa, Later Cutting): 1st - Dennis Newhard, Nazareth; 2nd - Douglas Newhard, Bath.
Class 23 (Alfalfa-Grass Mix, First Cutting): 1st - Ben Gordon, Huntingdon - Grand Champion Section II.
Class 24 (Grass-Alfalfa Mix, First Cutting): 1st - Dan Rice, Blain; 2nd - Dennis Newhard, Nazareth.
Class 25 (Alfalfa-Grass Mix, Later Cutting): 1st - Wayne Charlton, Richmond.
Class 26 (Alfalfa-Grass Mix, Later Cutting): 1st - Dennis Newhard, Nazareth.
Class 30 (Timothy, First Cutting): 1st - Dan Rice, Blain.
Class 33 (Grass-Alfalfa Mix, Later Cutting): 1st - William Peters, PA Furnace.