Lever Motley of Route 2, Blaney, is apparently the winner of the annual race to gin the first bale of cotton in Richland county.

Mr. Motley ginned a 660 pound bale last saturday at E. T. Bowen’s gin, according to Bob Bailey, Richland county agent. The cotton brought $231 at 35 cents a pound. Grown from Coker’s 100 seed, its staple length was 11-16.