Hay you guys!

The Platte Valley Arts Council is sponsoring the third annual Hay Bale Sculpture Contest. All local ranches, businesses or families are invited to show off some good old ranch ingenuity that gives their outfit creative bragging rights. The rules state that sculptures may incorporate wood, metal, wire, paint, canvas dams, or anything else dreamed up but must prominently be made of hay. The entry forms are due by Oct. 4 as the deadline has been extended. Photos of the constructed masterpieces will be posted on the Arts Council Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/PlatteValleyArts where the contest will run from Oct. 16 through Oct.31 and the winner will be the one with the most "LIKES".

In addition to promoting awareness of all the ranching operations in Encampment, Saratoga, and Riverside, the Platte Valley Arts Council hopes to share the creative agricultural minds in our midst. The "People's Choice" winner will take home a traveling trophy (which has been taken care of by The TA Ranch for the past year as the 2018 winners). The trophy was created by Saratoga artist, Sierra Smith. The winner and runners-up will be announced in November. The winning ranch, business or family will keep the trophy for one year, then surrender to next year's winner. The first competition was won by The Barkhurst Family in 2017.