Giant Straw Bale Fun In Indiana

Giant Straw Bale Fun In Indiana Farmers reached a new level of creativity this fall in Shipshewana, Ind., with the Giant Straw Bale Trail. This was the first time for the free event, a self-guided trail that ran during daylight hours from Sept. 1 through Nov. 2, 2025. There were over 35 Giant Straw Bale locations. Besides those in the Amish area of Shipshewana, straw bales could also be found in the towns of Howe, LaGrange, and Middlebury. Each straw bale was designed by a local artist, along with the business owner. People could vote for their favorite bale by submitting a photo online. The oversized designs ranged from agricultural themes to those that showcased the business’s personality, such as Fido the Dog, a dog-themed design for Nature’s Design Pet Foods. One particularly creative design was the Pop Up Camper, a straw-bale-like pop-up tent camper made for the Shipshewana North Park Campground. Other bales were just fun, like the Needle in a Haystack—a straw bale shaped like a spool of thread with a needle inserted. This was found at the Farmstead Inn. WillHay Nelson simply speaks for itself. One with an ag connection was Laverne the Steer, which took four bales to complete. This was made for Country Road Fabrics. Another cow-themed find was Helena the Highlander, designed for Dutch Blessing Floral. She was crowned with and surrounded by mums. Some, like the Yoder Toter Amish Buggy at Yoder’s Shopping Center, reflected local Amish culture. LaGrange County is home to one of the largest Amish populations in the U.S., with over 15,000 Amish residents. Cartoon characters like Charlie Brown and Snoopy appeared alongside movie characters like Buzz Lightyear and Willy Wonka, making this a unique, eye-catching family activity, even for the little ones. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Visit Shipshewana (ph 800-254-8090; www.visitshipshewana.org).

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