In addition to promoting tourism, participants are also eligible for prizes from the county tourism commission. Prizes will be awarded on Oct. 31. - Photos courtesy of Logan County Tourist and Convention Commission.

Spotting photo-worthy attractions in Logan County does not have to be like finding a needle in a haystack, though several hay bales are acting as helpful guideposts this fall.

The Logan County Tourist and Convention Commission is sponsoring the county’s first Decorated Hay Bale Tour.

Area businesses and residents have been encouraged throughout September to acquire hay bales and decorate them imaginatively. 

Dee Dee Brown, office manager for the tourist commission, said that the success of neighboring Todd County’s Bale Trial led Logan County tourism officials to consider doing something similar.

The aim is to compile the decorated hay bales in a guide so that people interested in traversing the county can see them.

“We have quite a few participants signed up already and several in the process of making them,” Brown said. “It’s more so about getting people out traveling around and seeing the beauty of the county.”

In front of the old county courthouse, the tourist commission has placed a hay bale decorated to represent a red barn with a white painted door and a black pitched roof.

Decorated bales have sprouted elsewhere this fall, with Auburn School displaying a hay bale decorated to look like a freshly-picked apple, complete with a smiling worm.

At Trembley Pool and Spa, a decorated bale employees call the “Kentuck-hay Wildcat” has gotten a lot of attention.

“I’ve seen lots of pictures on Facebook and a lot of people stop by and take pictures all day long,” said Trembley office manager Leslie Jones, who decorated the bale with a colleague about two weeks ago.

In addition to promoting local travel, the decorated hay bales are being entered into a contest sponsored by the county tourist commission.

The makers of some of the most creatively decorated bales will receive prizes such as gift baskets, according to Brown.

Winners will be announced and prizes will be awarded on Halloween, which should give interested sightseers enough time to see what people have created.

Jones said the tourist commission is looking to incorporate the hay bales with Logan County’s annual Tobacco and Heritage Festival, which lasts through the upcoming week.

“I’ve been amazed that everyone has turned in something different,” Jones said. “It’s just fun to see all the creativity and excitement people are having toward it so far. We’re hoping it’ll be a big enough hit that we’ll continue to do it every year.”

— For more information call 270-726-1678 or email logankytourism@att.net.

— Follow courts reporter Justin Story on Twitter @jstorydailynews or visit bgdailynews.com.