09/17/2026
🌾 The Decorated Hay Bale Contest is back! 🌾
Once again, five local organizations have transformed our giant hay bales into works of art — and YOU get to help decide who wins a $1,000 donation from Fresh Acres!
If you’re new to Fresh Acres, here’s how it works:
🎨 Five local nonprofit/community organizations each decorate one of our giant hay bales.
🎟️ Every paid admission receives one ticket to vote for their favorite.
🏆 At the end of the season, the organization with the most votes receives a $1,000 donation from Fresh Acres!
The bales will be on display throughout the corn maze season, so be sure to check them all out before casting your vote.
Meet our 2026 contestants (in alphabetical order)!
🚗 Just Drive Day — The Car
Just Drive grew out of an unimaginable loss. After Greg and Amy LaVallee’s 19-year-old son, Phillip, was killed by a distracted driver in 2013, they turned their grief into a mission to help prevent other families from experiencing the same loss. Through education, advocacy and community outreach, Just Drive works to change attitudes and behaviors surrounding distracted driving and encourages everyone to keep their eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and mind on driving.
🇺🇸 Monticello Chamber of Commerce & Industry — The 250th
Established in 1948, the Monticello Chamber of Commerce & Industry represents hundreds of area businesses and organizations and works to connect and strengthen our community. In addition to supporting local businesses, the Chamber helps bring Monticello together through community events, partnerships and opportunities that make our area a great place to live, work and visit.
🐮 Monticello FFA — The Steer
After disappearing from Monticello in the 1980s, FFA is back! Students helped lead the effort to bring agricultural education and FFA back to Monticello, and the newly revived chapter received its official charter in 2025. In just its second year, six teams advanced to the 2026 Minnesota FFA State Convention. The chapter gives students opportunities to develop skills in agriculture, leadership, competition and community service.
🎓 Monti Grad Party — The Graduate
Run entirely by volunteers, the Monticello All Night Graduation Party gives graduating seniors one last night together as a class in a safe, chemical-free environment. The nonprofit has no paid employees or dedicated funding source and relies on registration fees, fundraising and generous support from parents, businesses and community members to provide a memorable celebration for Monticello graduates.
🐶 You’re Not Alone; — The Dog
You’re Not Alone began right here in Monticello, with Amy Theisen Walz and therapy dog Willow providing a safe, nonjudgmental source of support for students at Monticello Middle School. Today, YNA continues to support whole-person health and well-being, with an emphasis on mental health, through therapy-dog programs, speaking engagements, workshops and community events. Their goal is to build stronger relationships and encourage conversations centered around acceptance, understanding and empathy.
🌾 Now comes the hard part — choosing your favorite!
Take a look at all five bales during your visit, then use your ticket to cast your vote. Every vote counts, and one of these organizations will finish the season with a $1,000 donation from Fresh Acres!
Which bale has your vote? 👇
