A Hopkins County agricultural tradition is continuing, and in 2019 being sponsored by the Natural Resources Conservation Services which, like Hopkins/Rains Farm Bureau, serves Hopkins and Rains Counties. The long-standing tradition is for hay growers to compare their product with others, with an eye to top nutrition in the hay they raise for forage for their animals. The 2019 deadline to enter hay samples was October 4, and according to Andy Wright, organizer of this year’s Show and Sale, there are 38 entries. The samples come from bales made during this year’s growing season on fields and meadows of hay growers in Hopkins and Rains Counties. The samples have already been analyzed, and winners have already been selected. Winners will be announced and prizes awarded on Friday October 25, 2019 at 11:30 at the Hopkins County Civic Center. A sale will follow, with proceeds going to scholarships for 4H and FFA student applicants in the schools of both counties who plan a career in agriculture.
As President of Hopkins Rains County Farm Bureau, Andy Wright is also active in numerous annual events which are agriculturally based, such as Northeast Texas Livestock Association and others. He is also a Board member of the NRCS.