After the defending 2024 and 2025 event champion, Kade Pieper, did not participate in this year’s event, there is a new Hay Bale Toss victor at the Solon Beef Days in Solon, Iowa.
On a hot July 17 evening, Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Cael Winter was crowned the 2026 Hay Bale Toss champion after he cleared a bale of hay above 13 feet and six inches, outduelling fellow offensive lineman teammate Lucas Allgeyer to win the event. Notably, this toppled Pieper’s winning mark, which was 13 feet last year.
Winter, an in-state product who attended Waukee Northwest High School, is entering his fourth season in the Hawkeyes’ program. The 6-foot-4, 294-pounder appeared sparingly on Iowa’s offensive line last season, but will likely get more exposure this fall.
The number of Iowa football contestants in this year’s Hay Bale Toss reached the double digits, with most of them coming from the Hawkeyes’ dominating offensive linemen, including Winter, Allgeyer, Trevor Lauck, Michael Myslinski, and Leighton Jones.
Winter now joins an illustrious list of Hawkeyes to win the annual Solon Beef Days Hay Bale Toss over the past several years, which includes Tyler Linderbaum, Tristan Wirfs, Gennings Dunker, and Pieper.
Winter and the Hawkeyes open the 2026 season on Sept. 5, hosting Northern Illinois at 3:15 p.m. CT at Kinnick Stadium.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football OL Cael Winter wins 2026 Solon Beef Days Hay Bale Toss
Reporting by Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Scout Springgate, Hawkeyes Wire | USA TODAY Network
