Locals hope the installation, depicting All Black captain Richie McCaw against the colours of each participating World Cup nation, will encourage people to stop in the town during the six-week-long tournament.
Community group member Bob Watherston described the process as a "great community effort", involving the rugby club, local businesses and various community organisations.
The bales, donated by farmer Justin Slee, were "very tight", easy to work with and were loaded and shifted by the local garage and transport company.
The New Zealand Rugby Union did its part too, working with Rugby World Cup 2011 to allow the accompanying sign to bear the tournament's name.
The tribute to McCaw celebrated "more than just a good rugby player", Mr Watherston said.
The All Black captain's success "reflected a good upbringing" in a family tree filled with generations of great farmers, he said.
Frances Slee, who completed the work in the absence of her mother, Karmen, said the painting had taken about six hours.
Some countries' colours, though, were more difficult to render than others.
"The maple leaf is really hard to do with spray paint," she said.
An exhibition of memorabilia, featuring Richie McCaw's first All Black jersey, will be displayed in the Kurow museum for the duration of the tournament.
A Phil Gard All Black jersey will also be on show.
