When all was said and done, auctioneer Kelly Conley had coaxed $35,925 from bidders at the 57th annual Mineola Hay Show last Tuesday.

When add-ons were totaled, the money raised for the Mineola ag program had topped $40,000.

The 57th edition of the show is said to be the longest running in the nation.

Emcee Jackie Rodieck noted it is an observance of tradition and an investment in the future.

In addition to serving as the means to an end for the auction, the growers also receive valuable feed back and analysis of their samples.

The hay growers are listed in place order, followed by the winning bidder and amount.

Jim Hooton, J&H Septic, $3,000.

Greg Walker, Mineola Community Bank, $2,500.

Jody Holmes, Big Country Farm Store, $2,000.

Tuff Arney, Monica Cook-State Farm, $1,600.

Jerry Huff, Lucky L Farms, $1,800.

Ricky LaPrade, First National Bank of East Texas, $1,100.

Miller Hay Sales, Mineola Community Bank, $1,000.

Rusty Goforth, Winnsboro Livestock and Dairy Auction and Trinidad Benham, $1,000.

John E. Oaks, Wood County Electric Co-op, $1,250.

John Mays, City National Bank, $650.

Tommy Paben, Edward Jones-Leon Anderson, $600.

Francie Hayden, Wood County Farm Bureau, $950.

David Miller, Seth’s Lake Fork Creek, $550.

Tom West, Circle E Farms, $950.

Heather Allen, Wood County Electric Co-op, $500.

Taylor Arney, Cody Mize, $700.

Forrest Clark, Young Oil Co., $550.

Beverly English, First National Bank East Texas, $700.

Rodney Hayes, Dwayne Henry, $1,000.

Rex Coulter, Jason Ray, $550.

Tyler English, Circle E Farms, $550.

Jon Allen, Lucky L Ranch, $600.

Ed Tunnell, Legacy Ag Credit, $550.

Froilan Martinez, Wood County Electric Co-op, $550.

David Rains, Jerry Gaskill, $550.

R.L. Lewis, Kyle Hays, $525.

Kyle Hays, W6 Farms, $675.

Steven Rose, Circle E Farms, $425.

Damon Young, Emory Livestock, $650.

Buddy Huff, Shane Stevenson, $725.

A show pig donated by D.J. Wernecke was won by T&B Management Inc. for $750 and donated to the Mineola ag department.

Special auction items

Blower and chain saw, City National Bank, $1,100.

Thermal hog hunt, Buddy Huff, $1,350. (Donated for resale)

Thermal hog hunt, W6 Farms, $1,200.

Bag, billfold, clips, Loretta Huff, $950.

Boone Ranch beef, Buddy Huff, $800.

Pellet grill and meat, Parker and Son, $1,025.

The hay show awarded $14,000 in scholarships to the 2023 graduates and has surpassed $250,000 in recent years.

While the financial support for their college careers is important, Rodieck pointed out that it is also important for the students to understand that their community is standing behind them.

The 2023 scholarship recipients with amount and school attending were recognized.

Sydney Van Cleave, $3,000, Texas A&M.

Zoe Goodson, $2,500, East Texas Baptist.

Mylee Fischer, $2,000, Texas A&M.

Ashton Crowley, $1,500, Midwestern State.

Lorenzo Castorena, $1,000, Kilgore College.

Jocelyn Whitehead, $1,000, Premier Dental Academy.

Tanner Crenshaw, $1,000, Oklahoma Horseshoeing School.

Campbell Littlefield, $1,000, Stephen F. Austin.

Vanessa Veloz, $1,000, UT-Dallas.

Two special presentations were made.

Longtime Mineola ag teacher and hay show supporter Glen Dossett was recognized for his recent induction into the Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas Hall of Fame. He taught for more than 50 years, most of that in Mineola.

“How do you summarize a legend in a few words,” Rodieck said.

He didn’t just teach, he put opportunities in front of his students, she said, and gave her personal testimony.

Two hay show board members were also recognized for their years of dedication, Buddy Huff and Sammy Young.