Art supplies do not always come from an art store. Sometimes they come from a farm, a bucket pile, or the corner where old tires have been waiting for someone to do something with them.
This Alabama attraction puts that idea on a massive scale, with more than 80 sculptures built from hay bales and discarded agricultural materials. The collection includes a towering Tin Man, a giant spider, and a pink muscle car, each turning familiar objects into something far less expected.
It all began in 1993, when a broken hay baler inspired a creative surprise for the artist’s wife, Lib. What started as a personal gesture grew into a field of sculptures that draws curious visitors from far beyond the surrounding countryside.
It is a persuasive argument for looking twice before throwing anything away.
A Love Story Rolled Up in Hay
Broken machines usually mean bad news on a farm. Back in 1993, Jim Bird’s hay baler started spitting out lumpy, misshapen bales that were no good for feeding cattle.
Most farmers would have grumbled and tossed them aside.
Jim had a better idea. His wife, Lib, was away visiting family, so he shaped those odd bales into a caterpillar and a spider to surprise her when she came home.
That small, goofy gift turned into a tradition that lasted for decades.
Knowing this story changes how the whole field feels. Every sculpture becomes a little echo of that first sweet gesture, and the place stops being just a quirky stop and starts feeling like a love letter left out in the open.
Kids usually find the story charming, and grown-ups tend to get a bit misty about it.
The field sits at 16040 US-43, Forkland, AL 36740, about eight miles north of Demopolis. Locals often call it Bird’s Farm, so don’t be surprised to hear that name tossed around.
Here is a simple tip. Share the origin story with everyone in the car before arriving.
It makes spotting the first hay creature from the road much more exciting, and it gives younger travelers a reason to look closer at each piece. Good stories make good stops even better, and this one is hard to beat.
Say Hello to the 32-Foot Tin Man
Necks get a workout here. The Tin Man rises a whopping 32 feet over the pasture, easily the tallest and most famous figure in the whole collection.
Up close, the details are pure farmyard genius. His feet are old bathtubs, his body and legs come from 55-gallon drums, and an old fuel tank helps fill out his frame.
A rusty fertilizer spreader serves as his head, which is probably not what the spreader expected for retirement.
Jim Bird famously tried to spend no more than about five dollars on each creation. The Tin Man broke that rule, mostly because of the shiny aluminum paint that keeps him glowing.
Honestly, he earned it.
Look for the red heart on his chest. It carries a short message, Jim loves Lib, and it might be the most touching detail on the property.
A tribute to The Wizard of Oz ended up being a tribute to a marriage too.
For photos, step back far enough to catch his full height, then move in for a close shot of that heart. Late afternoon light makes the silver paint gleam, while cloudy days give a softer, moodier look.
Either way, this giant makes a fantastic background for a family picture, and he never complains about holding a pose.
Octopus Lunch, Bull Trouble, and Other Silly Scenes
Humor runs wild across this pasture. One scene shows an octopus gobbling up a seaman, while another catches a matador in serious trouble with a bull.
Nobody seems to be winning, and that is exactly the point.
A ship tosses on rough seas nearby, built entirely from bales and bits of scrap. There is also a helicopter, an army tank, a rabbit, and three monkeys acting out hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.
Each one feels like a joke told with a straight face.
What makes these scenes so fun is the storytelling. Jim Bird was known around Demopolis as a gifted storyteller, and his sculptures carry that same spirit.
Every figure seems frozen in the middle of a punchline.
Kids can turn the visit into a game. Try making up what happens next for each scene, like whether the sailor escapes or the matador finally gets a break.
It keeps little ones busy and sparks plenty of giggles.
Adults will spot clever touches too, like how tires become eyes or how buckets turn into helmets. Slow down and look twice.
The longer the stare, the more small surprises appear, and that is half the fun of wandering this odd little world.
Snoopy, Big Bird, and a Pink Muscle Car
Cartoon fans, rejoice. Somewhere in the field, Snoopy is crashing the Red Baron’s airplane into a tree, which is a pretty hilarious way to end a dogfight.
Big Bird shows up too, looking a bit rounder and fuzzier than usual thanks to his hay body. There is also a bright pink muscle car that seems ready to burn rubber, even though it has never moved an inch.
Nostalgia hits hard in this corner.
Grandparents might recognize characters from their own childhoods, while parents and kids find familiar faces from shows they share. That mix makes the stop work for every age in the car.
Everyone has a favorite by the end.
Point out each character before explaining it. Watching a young traveler figure out who a lumpy hay figure is supposed to be is a joy all on its own.
Sometimes they guess wrong, and that is even funnier.
The pink car is a top photo pick. Its color pops against the green grass and pale bales, making it great for bright, cheerful pictures.
Snap a few shots, then try a silly pose beside the crashing Snoopy plane. These playful moments often turn into the snapshots people remember most from a whole road trip through Alabama.
Junk Turned Into Genius
One farmer’s scrap pile became an entire art show. Jim Bird built his creatures from whatever happened to be around the farm, from hay bales to hubcaps.
Look closely and the clever choices start popping out. Old tires, buckets, chunks of wood, metal drums, and leftover farm parts all play roles.
A hubcap can become an eye, and a bucket can become a nose. Nothing went to waste.
His famous five-dollar limit kept things creative. Instead of buying supplies, he looked at junk and asked what it could become.
That way of thinking is a great lesson for kids and grown-ups alike, especially anyone who loves crafts or building things.
Families can turn the visit into a treasure hunt. Pick one sculpture and try to name every recycled item hiding in it.
Some are obvious, while others take real detective work. Bonus points for spotting the strangest material in the field.
Bring the idea home too. After the visit, gather some cardboard boxes, bottle caps, or old containers and build a mini sculpture together.
It is a fun, cheap way to keep the spirit of the trip going. Jim Bird proved that art does not need fancy tools, just imagination and a little stubborn creativity.
Easy Stop, Big Smiles
Jim Bird once said he wanted to give bored drivers something to look at. Mission accomplished.
Highway 43 suddenly gets a lot more interesting about eight miles north of Demopolis.
The best part is how simple a visit can be. The field is open-air, so travelers can drive by, pull over, look around, and take photos.
There is no long line or ticket booth to worry about.
A few easy rules keep things running smoothly. Please avoid driving onto the pasture where the sculptures sit, but feel free to walk around and admire them up close.
Walking makes it easier to catch the small details anyway.
Wear comfy shoes, since the ground is grassy and can be uneven. On sunny days, hats and water help a lot, because shade is limited in an open field.
After rain, expect some mud. Pack a towel for little feet.
Plan for at least thirty minutes, though many people end up staying longer than expected. With more than eighty pieces spread out, there is plenty to explore.
Treat the art kindly and leave everything as it was found. That way, the next car full of curious travelers gets the same delightful surprise.
May Hay Day Keeps the Magic Alive
Jim Bird passed away in April 2023 at age 96, yet his field still bursts with life. His son Archie and daughter Avery help care for the sculptures, so the fun keeps rolling.
Jim was more than an artist. He was a musician, a storyteller, and a big part of his community, even leading the Christmas on the River celebrations in Demopolis for four decades.
That generous spirit lives in every bale.
Each year, the family hosts May Hay Day on the first Saturday after Mother’s Day. Friends and neighbors gather to touch up paint, fix worn spots, and sometimes help build brand new pieces.
It is part cleanup day, part celebration.
Because new pieces appear over time, repeat visitors often find something different. A sculpture missing last year might be standing proud this spring.
Coming back is never boring.
Check the Hay Art Forkland Facebook page for updates before planning a trip around May Hay Day. Joining in, or even just watching, offers a rare peek at how a community keeps a beloved landmark going.
For many families from the area, this field means almost home, and that feeling is something worth protecting for many years to come.
