Harlingen has auctioned the first bale of cotton grown in the United States since 1953 and this year will not be different.

The official certified first bale of cotton in the United States was delivered to Chris Breedlove at Willacy Co-op in Sebastian, Texas by Wesley Vanderpool at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 21, 2019.

The Harlingen Cotton Committee has verified that the nation’s first bale of cotton was grown in the Rio Grande Valley for 66 years. This year celebrates the 2019 cotton crop with a First Bale Auction & Scholarship Fundraiser at the TSTC Cultural Arts Center on Thursday, September 12, 2019.

The event will start at 6:30 p.m. and end at 9:30 p.m.

Along with auctioning off the first bale, the Harlingen Cotton Committee will be awarding scholarship money to students attending Texas State Technical College to pursue a degree in an agricultural-related field.

EVENT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE!

For more information, contact Chamber Vice President, Vanessa Camacho, at vgcamacho@harlingen.com or call the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce at 956-423-5440.