AJ Dolan
Iowa football lineman Kade Pieper muscles a hay bale at the annual Hay Bale Toss during Solon Beef Days Friday, July 18. Pieper defended his 2024 win with a 13’ toss in a showdown to claim the 2025 Championship.
It has become an annual tradition for Iowa football players to put their strength to the test at Solon Beef Days’ esteemed Hay Bale Toss, and this year was no exception, hosting numerous Hawks in the 2025 event.
After offensive lineman Kade Pieper’s victory last year, winning at a bar height of 12 feet, he made it his mission to once again outperform his competition as well as himself.
“I didn’t really change anything from last year,” said Pieper. “I just came to throw it up there.”
And throw it he did. In front of his fellow Hawkeye teammates, Pieper stepped up to the bar and made his bale tosses count, beating his last year height with 13 feet in an overtime battle with opposer Wyatt Seagren.
“It was fun, I enjoyed it a lot. It was great to win and have all these people around, especially my teammates,” said Pieper.
Prior to Pieper’s win, both the women’s and master’s divisions showdowns took place, gathering hundreds to witness the strength and determination of their peers.
In the women’s division, former Hawkeye Track & Field athlete Jamie Kofron took home the Champion belt after a shootout with Cat Kruschke, winning with a bar height of 9 feet, 6 inches.
In the master’s division, Steve McElmeel was crowned the victor, beating the crowd favorite Moose Kueter with an impressive height of 11 feet, 6 inches.