A Gift to the Conservancy and the Artist Behind Makin’ Hay

Makin’ Hay is a striking set of three larger-than-life sculptures crafted from Core-Ten steel and hay. This whimsical installation was generously gifted to the Conservancy by Candace and Michael Humphreys, bringing a unique blend of art and agriculture to the park’s Open Fields area.

Created in 2002 by renowned sculptor Tom Otterness, Makin’ Hay first debuted in a hay bale sculpture contest in Utica, Montana. Otterness, an American sculptor of Norwegian descent, is celebrated for his playful and accessible public sculptures installed in major cities worldwide, including New York, Toronto, Seoul, the Netherlands, and Germany. While most of his works are cast in bronze—including the famed Life Underground installation in the New York City subway—Makin’ Hay stands out for its innovative use of natural materials.

Makin’ Hay has traveled far and wide before returning to its home at Phil Hardberger Park, having been displayed at notable locations such as the Sun Valley Center for the Arts in Idaho, Stanford University, Washington State University, Wichita State University, Crystal Bridges Museum of Art in Arkansas, and even San Antonio’s Mission San Juan before its relocation to Hardberger Park in 2012.