Early summer across the Cotton Belt often means weed and disease pressure, but it also signals that coveted first bale of the season. This year Wesley Vanderpool in Alamo, TX harvested that first bale on June 23 at 1,989 lbs of cotton with the Stoneville ST4990 variety. Vanderpool’s harvested bale was then ginned at Willacy Co-Op Gin in Sebastian, Texas by manager Chris Breedlove. The bale will be auctioned off at the annual First Bale of Cotton Auction and Scholarship Fundraiser happening on September 15 in Harlingen, Texas.

Wesley Vanderpool (far right) harvested this year’s first bale of cotton – a Stoneville ST4990
variety – near Alamo, Texas. Also pictured with Wesley are Chris Breedlove (center), manager of
the Willacy Co-Op Gin, and Verne Vanderpool (far left), Wesley’s partner.