Royal's Marc Janett named Grant County Fair Hay King

MOSES LAKE - The Washington State Hay Growers Association named Royal City's Marc Janett the 2015 Grant County Fair Hay King on Wednesday.

Kirk Jungers, representing the Mid-Columbia Basin Hay Growers, presented the award. It was the third time Janett's MJ Farms earned it. He was first crowned in 2009 and again in 2011.

Of the six different hays being judged, three were alfalfa (dairy, export, and feed store); export Timothy, domestic grass, and the grass/lexume mix comprised the other three.

Janett's dairy alfalfa and export Timothy were judged to be the best in their categories. MJ Farms was the only one of the 12 exhibitors to receive the top ranking in multiple categories.

What's Janett's secret ingredient to growing top-quality hay? Luck.

"You grow it the best you can and hope for the right weather," said Janett, in his 15th year of hay farming.

"Do the best job you can and hope for a little luck along the way," he added.

The top export and feed stores hay was grown on two different Moses Lake farms. Export alfalfa was Hay Boy Farms' only contest entrant and ranked better than five other farms' export alfalfa. Haywire Farms' 87.3, on a scale of 100, put them atop the feed store category.

Relative feed value (determined by cattle tissue analysis) accounted for 30 percent of the hay's score. Three judges let looks determine the rest. The visual score accounts for 70 percent.

Janett, accompanied by his wife and three of his six children, said most of the hay he grows is exported to Japan, while most of the rest is usually sold to racehorses preparing for the Kentucky Derby.

All of the hay being judged at the Grant County Fair is being donated to various farmers who have been impacted by the Chelan wildfires. Jungers, the Hay King superintendent, said the hay is donated every year, following the fair, to "someone local. It changes every year. Whoever needs it."