All invited to participate in 71st Montana Seed Show

Press release

The 71st Annual Montana Seed Show is approaching.

The Montana Seed Show will be held March 12-14 at Harlem High School. The Montana Seed Show would like invite everyone to participate in this year's show.

The purpose of the Montana Seed Show is to promote the production and use of good quality seed and feed. All growers are encouraged to exhibit the feed and seed they have for sale or are using on their farms. It is the desire of the Seed Show Committee to provide a system for entry that is simple, fair and enables and encourages entry of exhibits from around the region.

Entries may be made by any crop producer. Samples must be grown or contracted by the exhibitor. Samples of seed or feed must have been produced in 2019.

All small grain entries may be delivered or mailed to the Montana State University Blaine County Extension Office or The Clothing Company in Harlem up to March 3. This due date is necessary for cleaning and analysis.

If mailing a sample, please use the entry form available by contacting the MSU Blaine County Extension Office. After this date, seed entries must be delivered to Harlem High School Thursday, March 12 between 9 a.m. and noon. After March 3 it is the responsibility of the producer to have exhibit cleaned and graded before entry.

All small grain seed exhibits must be 1 pint in size for show. At least 1 gallon should be provided to the extension office for cleaning to ensure adequate quality after cleaning. Legumes and grass seed entries must be cleaned and must be 1 pint for exhibit. Potatoes shall consist of five tubers and will be judged on uniformity, appearance and suitability for market potatoes.

Forage and silage entries may be delivered or mailed to the MSU Blaine County Extension Office by Feb. 25, so that they may be sent to a lab to test for nutrient content and quality. If mailing samples, exhibitors must include name, address and phone number of exhibitor. After this date, forage and silage entries must be delivered to Harlem High School up until 9 a.m. Thursday, March 12. The testing will be free of charge to producers. Forage entries will consist of the following:

• Silage – one gallon in a transparent bag

• Baled Hay – 12 inch section tied twice

• Loose Hay – bundle of not less than 8 inches in diameter, tied twice

• Chopped Hay – 3 pound bag

• Cubed Hay – 3 pound sample in a clear bag

Samples will not be returned. One exhibit per class per exhibitor. Each grand champion award will consist of a rosette and a $100 cash award.

For more information, people can contact MSU Blaine County Extension Agent Juli Snedigar at 357-3200 or [email protected], John Schneider, Montana Seed Show forages and grains superintendent, at 379-2507, and Paul Rasmussen, Montana Seed Show committee chairman, at 353-4524.