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Iowa OL Kade Pieper defends Solon Beef Days hay bale toss title with 13-foot throw

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•07/19/25•

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Iowa OL Kade Pieper defends Solon Beef Days hay bale toss title with 13-foot throw
Screenshot courtesy of @HawkeyeFootball/X

For the second straight year, Kade Pieper won the Solon Beef Days hay bale toss competition. The Iowa offensive lineman recorded a 13-foot throw to seal another victory in the event.

It took overtime in the Hay Bale Toss to for Pieper to seal the win once again. He’s the second Iowa player to go back-to-back in the event this decade, joining Gennings Dunker after he won in both 2022 and 2023, according to Hawkeyes Wire.

Afterward, Pieper pointed out how tough it was to win the competition again. He felt fatigue set in, but he still managed to get the bale 13 feet in the air and retain his crown.

“It was a little difficult,” Pieper said afterward, via KCRG-TV’s Collin Davies. My legs were a little sore, but I got it at the end.”

Pieper joins an impressive list of Iowa players to win the Solon Beef Days hay bale toss competition, joining Tristan Wirfs and Matt Kroul. Tyler Linderbaum – a Solon native – also participated in the event while he played for the Hawkeyes.

Some of Pieper’s teammates were also in awe of his performance in the hay bale toss competition. Cael Winter pointed out Pieper’s accolades as a Nebraska state track and field star in the shot put while summing up the performance.

“He’s just a freak, man,” Winter said, via the Cedar Rapids Gazette’s Mike Hlas. “He threw the shot put something like 65 feet (63-7 1/2 for a Nebraska state-title) in high school.”

Kade Pieper – a Nebraska native – beat out another Nebraskan to win the hay bale toss once again. Former South Dakota State football player Wyatt Seagren, who also competes in track and field events, was the only other person to throw higher than 12 feet, 6 inches.

Pieper has been a reserve offensive lineman at Iowa but could find himself playing more of a starting role this year. The Hawkeyes will look to take a leap forward in Year 2 of Tim Lester’s offense – with a new quarterback in tow, as well. Former South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski is now in and preparing for his first training camp at Iowa after he was limited in spring practice with an injury.

Iowa is set to open the 2025 season Aug. 30 against Albany at Kinnick Stadium. That game will kick off at 6 p.m. ET.