County looking for volunteers to help fill Hay Barn

Clark County is looking for volunteers to cut, bale and haul hay this summer. 

The County owns about 70 acres of land in the north Orchards area and at Daybreak Park along the Lewis River in north Battle Ground and they need it cut and moved to their hay barn. 

In the past, the county has done some variation of a share with volunteers, where they keep half of the hay and the other half goes to the county. 

The county’s hay donation program was established in 2007 as a way of helping struggling horse owners provide for their animals. 

Since establishing the hay bank eight years ago, the county estimates more than 100 tons of hay have been given to horse owners in need. Although the amount varies, the county needs about 500 or more bales each year. 

Along with the hay from county owned land, the bank also holds donations from around the county. The county can not take hay donations older than a year or if it has ever been wet.

If someone wishes to donate hay, they work out the details of when and where with county officials to accommodate the donor’s schedule.  

“It is all volunteers on our end who have acreage and horses,” County Animal Control and Code Enforcement Manager Paul Scarpelli said. “So they are busy with their responsibilities as well."

Along with bodies and equipment to cut and bale hay, the county is always looking for extra hay and grain and donations to insure all of the estimated 30,000 horses in the county are cared for.”

Owners need to be proactive 

The county estimates the average horse needs about 10 60-pound bales of hay each month. 

Scarpelli said for animals in need to get proper care, it takes more than just proactive donors — those in need can’t be shy about asking for the county’s help. 

“We prefer that people call us before there is a problem, not after there’s a problem,” he said, and later added, “we certainly don’t want to see the animals suffering. We’d really prefer to get out in front of it.”