Hard to remember sometimes that cotton was king around here for many years. A combination of weevils and market changes finally resulted in most farmers turning to other crops. Quite sad that Mr. Riddels won this contest just months before his wife’s death.
The Caddo Herald
February 26, 1926
Riddels Wins Prize in Cotton Contest
The Durant Chamber of Commerce last Saturday awarded the $500 offered in it cotton contest as follows: Dewey Tarkington of Yarnaby, $300, 3,045 pounds of lint; R. A. Riddels of Caddo, $150, 2,528 pounds; A. L. Cordell of Colbert, $50, 2,537 lint. Colbert missed the first price because two of his six bales measured less than seven-eighths of an inch staple.
The purpose of the contest was to encourage the raising of more cotton on fewer acres, only five acres being used by the contestants.
Only seven farmers out of 62 originally entered finished the contest submitting reports and samples to contest committee.
Only Bryan County farmers could enter the contest. The towns represent by the seven men were Caddo, Colbert, Wade, Yarnaby, Bennington, Utica, and Kemp.
Riddels’ cotton was grown east of town.
Comments