JACKSONVILLE, Texas — Tuesday night in Jacksonville, farmers and hay producers helped raise money for local students, by showing and selling some of the best hay in the county

The hay show highlighted generations of farming and ranching in Cherokee County, and although it was a competition, the money raised went to benefit everyone.

The event started at six-o-clock at the Cherokee County Exposition Center, with a  meal catered by Jacksonville's own Stacy's BBQ.

Twenty-seven bails of hay were up for auction from local producers, all of which had been tested in Nacogdoches for their protein levels.

Before the auction got going, students from six different schools in Cherokee County were honored for their achievements in FFA and 4H programs.

This is a show that has been going on for decades, and Charles Dickerson, hay show committee co-president tells KETK, he expects it to be around for many more to come.

Sy Remington from Rusk was the grand champion, with a crude protein count of 18.1-percent.

The money raised from the night's auction will be used to support scholarship programs for students who are looking to learn more about carrying on the East Texas ranching and farming traditions.