Hay There

Platte Valley Arts Council announces 7th annual Hay Bale Sculpture Contest

The Platte Valley Arts Council is sponsoring the 7th annual Hay Bale Sculpture Contest. Back in September, there was an initiation sent out to all local ranches, businesses or families to show off some good ole’ fashioned ranch ingenuity that could give their outfit creative bragging rights for a year.

Six participants entered this years contest. Kelley Cattle Company who has participated in all seven years of the contest is joined by the Dirt Diggers Garden Club, Pine Lodge, Town & Country Realty, White Dog Liquor and the Young Ranch.

The entries had to complete their entries back on by October 8th when the official photos were taken. The photos of the completed works of art were posted on the organizations Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/PlatteValleyArts where “LIKES” will be tallied between October 15 through October 31st. The organization encourages the community to vote for their favorites during that time.

In addition to promoting awareness of all the ranching operations in Encampment, Saratoga & Riverside, the Platte Valley Arts Council hopes to share the creative agricultural minds in our midst. The “People’s Choice” winner will take home the traveling trophy created by Saratoga artist, Sierra Smith. The winner will be announced in November. The winning ranch, business or family will then keep the trophy for one year and then surrender it to the next years winner. The past winners have been: The Barkhurst Family (2017), TA Ranch (2018), Town & Country Realty (2019, CSU Beef Improvements Center (2020 & 2021) and Sunnycup (2022).

The mission of the Platte Valley Arts Council is to keep art in people’s everyday life and they can help do that by participating or voting in this unique and exciting fall activity.