The Lucky 13 variety of peaches grown by Mark Knight with M&M Farms proved to live up to its name for the eighth straight year.

M&M Farms won first place for its basket of peaches at the 68th annual Chilton County Peach Auction on Saturday.

Knight said he was thankful to win again, and considers himself blessed to have the winning basket.

“The Lord has been very good to us,” Knight said. “We have found that the Lucky 13 variety works best for us. We really enjoy that variety and it seems to be a good one.”

Knight said this year’s peach crop has been a good one when compared to previous years.

“This year, we have had a lot of peaches,” Knight said. “Everyone always wants to know my secret to how I have good peaches, and we actually didn’t even have to water them this year. We had pretty good rain and with peaches, you don’t want them to get too much water. We have just been really blessed.”

Knight’s basket this year was bought by the Chilton County Farmers Federation for $2,100.

“We try to buy the first-place basket every year,” Chilton County Farmers Federation President Wendell Kelley said. “We like to make the bidding competitive. It is our way of showing thanks to the farmers who grew the peaches.”

Kelley said he admires farmers for the work they invest in their crops, and looks forward to the Peach Auction each year because it highlights the hard work and dedication of the farmers.

“You just look around and see some really beautiful peaches,” Kelley said.

When asked what he planned to do with his large basket of robust looking peaches, Kelley said he planned to give them away.

“We like to share them with people,” Kelley said. “They are delicious peaches.”

About 28 baskets of peaches were entered in the 2015 Peach Auction, which raised more than $17,500 for Clanton Lions Club charities.

Below is a list of the growers and winning bidders in the 2015 Peach Auction:

•First place: Peaches grown by M&M Farms, sold to the Chilton County Farmers Federation for $2,100.

•Second place: Peaches grown by Jerry Harrison, sold to Mickey Bates with Clanton Tractor for $1,800.

•Third place: Peaches grown by Wise Farms, sold to Peoples Southern Bank for $1,300.

•Fourth place: Peaches grown by Jimmy Harrison and sons, sold to Allen Payton with Chilton Contractors for $1,000.

•Fifth place: Peaches grown by Andy Millard and Steve Wilson with Mountain View Orchards, sold to Ellison Funeral Home for $1,100.

Other bids included:

•Peaches grown by Mark and Melissa Knight with M&M Farms, sold Allen Payton with Chilton Contractors for $1,000.

•Peaches grown by Mark and Melissa Knight with M&M Farms, sold to The Clanton Advertiser for $800.

•Peaches grown by Todd’s Produce, sold to SunSouth Tractor for $700.

•Peaches grown by Todd’s Produce, sold to Cam Ward for $550.

•Peaches grown by Jerry Harrison, sold to Region’s Bank for $500.

•Peaches grown by Mark and Melissa Knight with M&M Farms to Chilton County Republican Party for $550.

•Peaches grown by Chilton Research Center, sold to Shane Ogle Memorial’s for $550.

•Peaches grown by Henry and Suzanne Williams, sold to Brasfield and Gorrie, General Contractors for $500.

•Peaches grown by Sunshine Farms, sold to Glenn McGriff for $450.

•Peaches grown by Wise Farms, sold to Martin Funeral Home for $400.

•Peaches grown by Keith and Regina Underwood of K&R Farms, sold to Garrison Farm and Home Center for $350.

•Peaches grown by Jim Pitts with the Chilton Research and Extension Center, sold to C&C Trophy for $300.

•Peaches grown by Jim Pitts with the Chilton Research and Extension Center, sold to Wadsworth Oil Company for $300.

•Peaches grown by Jim Pitts with the Chilton Research and Extension Center, sold to Pioneer Materials for $325.

•Peaches grown by Henry and Suzanne Williams, sold to Mickey Bates with Clanton Tractor for $300.

•Peaches grown by Jimmy Harrison and sons, sold to Tractor Equipment for $325.

•Peaches grown by Wayne and Patricia Franklin, sold to Congressman Gary Palmer for $300.

•Peaches grown by Henry and Suzanne Williams, sold to Congressman Gary Palmer for $300.

•Peaches grown by Henry and Suzanne Williams, sold to Clanton Tractor for $300.

•Peaches grown by Sunshine Farms, sold to Representative April Weaver for $325.

•Peaches grown by Willie Cooedy Farms, sold to SunSouth Tractor-John Deer for $375.

•Peaches grown by Ken Patterson Farms, sold to Bobby and Johnnie Lane for $475.

•Peaches grown by Ken Patterson Farms, sold to Rep. Mark Tuggle for $525.

Prior to the auction on Saturday, the annual Peach Parade took place through downtown Clanton. Parade participants departed from the Fred’s parking lot/Clanton City Park at 9 a.m. The parade took a different route than previous years due to the closed intersection of highways 31 and 22.

After the auction, a Peach Festival car show was held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Goose Pond Park in Clanton.

All of the proceeds from the car show went to the Chilton County Humane Society.

The car show was sponsored by the Chilton Cruisers, and President Jerry McGuire said there were roughly 60 entries this year.

Gerald Stamps brought his 1936 Chevrolet to display in the car show.

Stamps purchases the car about two years ago and has worked ever since to restore it.

“I take it apart and put it all back together again,” Stamps said. “I really enjoy working on it.”

Joe Hensley brought his bright-red 1931 Ford two-door sedan from Shelby County to display in the car show.

“I like to go to any car shows I can find, and there aren’t a lot in Alabama,” Hensley said.

Hensley drives his car “everywhere” he can, but not in the rain.

“I try to avoid the rain as much as I can,” Hensley said. “I have been working on this car for about seven years.”

Although rain held off for the events on Saturday, Friday’s 11th Annual Peach Jam had a soggy start.

Rain started around 5 p.m. and tapered off for many of the events, but started back up around 9 p.m.

The event was held at Clanton City Park and included arts and crafts vendors, live local entertainment, Kids Zone rides, food vendors and much more.

Admission was free.

Grace Fellowship provided music at 6:25, ‘Sweet Tea Trio’ also performed, the Whompus Cats performed at 9 p.m., Blast from the Past performed at 9:40 p.m. and the Whompus Cats returned to the stage around after 10 p.m.