The first bale of cotton grown on the High Plains of Texas from the 2010 crop has been harvested and ginned.

The first bale ginned for this season is claimed by Ocho Gin in Gaines County.

Harvesting the field of Stoneville 5458 cotton began Labor Day evening at 5:30 p.m. and ginning started at 7 p.m.  By 8:30 the bale came out of the Ocho Gin press and was rushed to the lobby of Commercial Sate Bank in Seminole.

The bale weighed in at 598 pounds and was grown by Gaines County farmer Jacob T. Friesen on his farm along County Road 206, north of Seminole.

The 2010 first bale will be on display at Commercial Sate Bank in Seminole until Sept. 16, when it will be auctioned at Gaines County Ag and Oil Appreciation Day.

Friesen said proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Reinlaender Mennonite School in Westside.