Record hay show auction tops $40K

By Phil Major
publisher@wood.cm
Posted 9/23/21

The Mineola Hay Show has come a long way.

When the bids and add-ons were tabulated last Tuesday night, the show generated more than $40,000 to assist the Mineola High School ag programs.

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Record hay show auction tops $40K

Posted

The Mineola Hay Show has come a long way.

When the bids and add-ons were tabulated last Tuesday night, the show generated more than $40,000 to assist the Mineola High School ag programs.

Compare that to 1969, when the show was held for the third time. It brought in a total of $172, with the first-place sample going for a high of $21.

Mineola Packing put in the top bid for this year’s first-place hay of David Rains for $3,000.

It marked the 55th edition of the show, the longest running such event in the state.

By the time the 36 lots were sold – 30 hay samples and six other items – the bids had reached $39,900, coaxed by auctioneer Kelly Conley.

The add-ons quickly pushed the total to $40,850 for a show record. By comparison, the last time the hay show was held in 2019 it brought in just over $30,000, while last year’s virtual show raised more than $27,000. The 2018 show held the previous high mark of $33,000.

Conley, who has been conducting the auction since at least 1997, managed to keep all the bids at or above $500, including $1,600 for the final item, a thermal hog hunt by Trey and Buddy Hoff, sold to Jason Ray.

In his opening prayer, MISD Superintendent Cody Mize said there could not be a better investment than these students.

Emcee (and former hay show scholarship recipient) Jackie (Lee) Rodieck said in addition to offering students financial help, they also show the students that their community is standing behind them.

The 12 students who earned the 2021 scholarships in May for $1,000 each were announced, and those present were introduced.

In the past five years scholarships totaling $90,000 have been awarded, and in all some $300,000 in the show’s history.

Proceeds also benefit the Mineola ag programs through purchases of needed equipment and supplies.

Scholarship recipients:

Tanner Block, Tyler Junior College (TJC), EMT and fire academy; Antonio Ventura, Tarleton State University, ag business; David Amador, Northeast Texas Community College, welding; Camila Ramos, TJC, general studies; Pricila Torres, Trinity Valley Community College, business management; Melissa Rojas, TJC, opthalmic medical assisting; Lanie Yager, TJC, diagnostic medical sonography; Jonah Fischer, Texas A&M, business/entrepreneurship; Abby Kratzmeyer, UT Tyler, nursing; Karsyn Banks, Stephen F. Austin, nursing; Taylor Ihlenfeldt, UT Tyler, nursing; Lilly Perez, TJC, veterinary technician.

Mineola FFA President Sunni Ruffin gave the welcome, and Vice President Sydney VanCleave introduced the guest speaker, Florida dairy farmer and agriculture comedian Tim Moffett.

Places, hay growers, buyers and final bids are as follows:

  • 1, David Rains, Mineola Packing, $3,000.
  • 2, Jim Hooton, J&H Septic, $2,500.
  • 3, Greg Walker, Mineola Community Bank, $2,300.
  • 4, Miller Hay Sales, Big Country Farm center, $2,500.
  • 5, S&K Cattle, City National Bank, $1,700.
  • 6, Tom West, Seth’s Lake Fork Creek restaurant, $1,200.
  • 7, Martha Holmes, Carr Construction, $1,200.
  • 8, Tommy Paben, Uncle Bubba’s Grillhouse, $1,000.
  • 9, Tuff Arney, Cody Mize, $1,300.
  • 10, Diamond N Farm, Wood County Electric Co-op, $1,000.
  • 11, Mineola FFA, First National Bank of East Texas, $1,000.
  • 12, David Miller, Texas Heritage National Bank, $1,000.
  • 13, Rusty Goforth, Young Oil Co., $1,100.
  • 14, Damon Young, FNB East Texas, $1,100.
  • 15, Sammy Young, Emory-Athens Livestock, $1,100.
  • 16, Francie Hayden, Wood County Electric, $800.
  • 17, Mark Hicks, Red Dome Restaurant, $1,050.
  • 18, Brandon Bell, Monica Cook State Farm, $700.
  • 19, Taylor Arney, Buddy and Loretta Hoff, $1,000.
  • 20, Vern Fernholtz, Trinidad Tenham, $500.
  • 21, Forest Clark, Shanis Young, Young Oil, $650.
  • 22, Anthony Bruner, Kelly Drug, $500.
  • 23, JimmieSmith, Peoples Telephone, $550.
  • 24, Jester D Farm, Big Juan Carrasco, $550.
  • 25, Kay Withrow, J&H Septic, $500.
  • 26, Lowell Main, Hefner Group Insurance, $500.
  • 27, Froilan Martinez, Brookshire’s Grocery, $575.
  • 28, John Mays, Ramirez AC and Electric, $725.
  • 29, Todd Jenkins, Winnsboro Livestock and Dairy Auction, $550.
  • 30, Mark Woodruff, Mineola Packing, $650.

Specialty items: Seth’s Lake Fork Creek, $950; Dell and Jo Griffith and Pecan House, $1,100; Wood County Farm Bureau, $1,300; Becky Moore-Farm Bureau, $900; Monica Cook-State Farm, $1,250; Jason Ray, $1,600.