Monte Nesbitt George Ray McEachern Larry Stein
TPGA Conf. Proceedings: Board of Directors passed a vot to hold a state pecan show in Fall, 1950. Judged at Texas A&M College in College Station in December Fred Brison, Al Krezdorn, John Hutchinson,
Bluefford Hancock instrumental Winner was E. Guy Risien, San Saba County
Joint Project: TPGA & A&M College Horticultural Club Heaviest Pecan, Highest Percent Kernel, Most Attractive Best Shelling Pecan (2ft drop, all kernels weighed that can be removed by hand with no shell or cork attached) Best Kernels (appearance, texture, flavor) Best Sample: Stuart, Success, Schley, Desirable, Mahan, Western Schley, Burkett
Delmas, San Saba Imp., Onliwon, Halbert, John Garner, Moore ,
Squirrels Delight (Added 1958)
Best Native First Recorded Data
Heaviest Pecan: Mahan 35 Nuts/Pound Highest % Kernel: Evans Seedling: 64.26% Kernel
Brison
Hancock
Storey
• • • •
First Show: Eastland County, Dec. 8, 1953 Credited to “energy and organizing ability of County Agent J.M. Cooper” (TPGA News 1/27/55). Included a pecan food show in 1955 San Saba County: Fist Show, Dec. 10, 1955 Gonzales, Guadalupe, Travis (1956), Menard (1957) TPGA News 11/17/59: “This channeling of the top pecan entries from several county shows has helped to make the State Show one of the best in the country”.
1956 Show (“largest ever”) 172 entries 1958: 180 entries from 15 counties. Had class for Hybrid Pecans
(USDA Cross)
1959 : 223 entries from 14 counties. 1960 : 425 entries from 19 counties. 1962 : 527 entries
1959 TPGA Convention; plaques awarded to grand, reserve and champion native pecan entries 1959 Pecan Queen was selected based on counties having the most category winners. Pecan Food Show at 1962 Texas State Fair
Regina Balch, Coryell Co. 1967 Pecan Queen
1953: Barton released by USDA 1955: Comanche released 1959: Choctaw , Wichita and Apache released 1960 Grand Champion: Choctaw entered by J.H. Womack, Deleon: 43 /lb; 60% kernel.
1961 Show: Choctaw, Comanche, and Wichita had their own classes.
Nelson Hander: ‘Texhan’
L.D. Romberg, USDA Pecan Breeder
GraTex GraKing GraPark Giant GraBohls GraZona GraCross
O.S. Gray, Arlington, TX; TPGA President (62-63)
Two Divisions for Improved Varieties: Inshell: Variety less than 50/lb and suitable for sale in the shell. Shelling: more than 50/lb and more marketable as shelled.
Variety seedling: One parent is known or suspected. Native: hybridized under natural conditions. Winning natives from past shows moved to separate category Awards: Champion Inshell, Reserve Champion Inshell, Champion & Reserve Shelling, Champion & Reserve Native, Grand Champion of Show. PL Downs Sweepstakes award given to winner of most category points,
sponsored by Bell County.
750 Entries; All winning entries displayed at TPGA Annual Conf.
841 Entries Lightest Pecan category
added Sample size increased from 15 to 25 nuts No marking, filing, or polishing of shells rule added.
Marie Storey
The Texas Pecan Show was too big!
Regional Shows Instituted West, Central, South Robert Kensing instrumental
Public Sites (Malls) utilized for publicity “Show Window of the Texas Pecan Industry” “Demonstrate superior quality of Texas pecans” Provide evaluation of new varieties
State Show held in conjunction with TPGA July Conference
Coordination by Extension Pecan Specialist 1966-1971: Bluefford Hancock
1972-2001: George Ray McEachern (30 years!) 2002-2009: Larry Stein
Published “Texas Pecan Grading Handbook” Eddie Holland
Annually Educational Tool for teaching growers and extension agents how to grade pecans for sale. Improved Divisions changed to Commercial & Classic Mac Gilliat th 4 Region added in 1990 Began computerized County-Region-State System of tracking entries. (1990). 49 Variety Classes (12 possible entries per Division=588 entries possible at state show) Developed a “Team” of county agents, specialists, and growers to keep a consistent system in place.
Sammy Helmers
Earl Puls
Bob Kensing
B. Hancock
J.B. Storey
500
1995
450
400 350 300 250 200 150
Average 366/Year
2008
100 50 0 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08
What is the most decorated pecan cultivar in the history of the Texas State Pecan Show? Heaviest pecan ever entered? Lightest pecan ever entered? Highest kernel percentage recorded? Who has won the most grand/reserve champion awards? What county has produced the most champion awards?
Inshell/Shelling Era
Champion
Reserve
Total
Sioux
12
6
18
6
10
16
6
6
12
Choctaw
6
5
11
Desirable
4
4
8
Kiowa
2
3
5
23
Cheyenne Wichita
17
Commercial/Classic Era
Champion
Reserve
Total
Cheyenne
9
2
11
Schley
6
2
8
Oconee
3
3
6
Pawnee
2
4
6
Wichita
1
4
5
Sioux
1
4
5
27
CHEYENNE, Released 1970 Average Values: 1989-2008 45.67 per pound 57.22 % kernel
SIOUX, Released 1962 Average Values: 1989-2008 59.7 per pound 59 % kernel
Lightest Native: 2002: 1,008 Per Pound; Herbert Dudley, Burleson Co.
Second Lightest: 1979: 889.4 Per Pound;
Taylor County Courthouse
Third Lightest: 1989: 872 Per Pound; Frank Jones, Kerr Co.
Heaviest Pecan on Record: 2000: Podsednik; 18.61 Per Pound; 52.6% Kernel ▪ Grown by John Robertson, County??? ▪ 19.72 Per Pound; 54.3% (1989); Grown by Victoria Arlitt, Washington County
Heaviest Pecan, Not a Podsednik Mohawk-24.4 Per Pound; 57.6% Kernel
▪ Grown by Wilberly & Sons, Travis County (1982)
Nuts/lb
Grown by
Year
County
36.7
H.C. Pape
1956
Guadalupe
37.6
Edward Menchaca
1962
Kimble
38.3
John Braden
1965
DeWitt
38.6
C.D. Alexander
1963
Bastrop
Grower
Years won
Total
County
L.G. Holland
1965, 1968, 1969, 1970
4
Bell
Happy Schieberle
1955, 1982, 1984
3
Kimble
Nelson Hander
1958, 1961, 1964
3
DeWitt
Highest Percent Kernel: GraTex: 67.58% Kernel (47.5 Per Pound)
Andy Sherrod/Royalty Pecans, Burleson Co., (1991) 67.57% GraTex, Joel Morrow, Matagorda Co. (1993) 67.53% GraTex Frio Pecan Farm, Real Co. (2007) 67.42% Known Hybrid, Leon Puckett, Tom Green (1990) 67.40% GraTex, Frio Pecan Farm, Real Co. (1990) 67.0% Schley Sibling, Leonard Farm, Mills (1966)
Loy Shreve
August Treiber
Bluefford Hancock
Grower
County
Entries
Grower
County
Entries
Belding Farms
Pecos
51
Robert Schuetze
Milam
70
Ray Barrett
Upton
52
August Treiber
Kerr
70
Boyd Reece
Midland
57
Marian Spears
Kerr
73
Harold Graf
Wharton
57
Childress Ag
Eastland
84
Kermit Crenweldge
Gillespie
57
Frio Pecan Farm
Real
87
Five-R Enterprises
El Paso
58
Nelson Hander
Bell
88
Leroy Olsak
Schleicher
62
Olan Tisdale
San Saba
101
Chester McCowan
Runnels
64
Fred Stockbauer
Victoria
118
Jeanne & Jerry Knapp
Navarro
67
Dinsmoor Bros.
Atascosa
169
Grower participation is evidence of support to county extension efforts and tremendous pecan knowledge in the county.
Grower Hander Dankworth Schutze Lewis Freeman Risien Leonard Farms Welch M&S Orchards Weiser-Mize Greer Smith
Nelson Charles Robert Troy B.B. E.G. James Olivia J.L. C.E.
1962-1988 1989-2008 8 0 6 1 0 7 5 0 4 0 4 0 4 0 1 3 0 3 0 3 3 0 3 0
Total 8 7 7 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3
B.B. Freeman, C.E. Smith & Nelson Hander
Nelson Hander (L), 8-time winner “The Sink-Tank” Others took losing TOO Seriously!!!
Robert Schuetze, Milam County, 7-time winner
Counties
1962-1988 1989-2008
Total
Eastland
11
2
13
Bell
11
1
12
San Saba
7
1
8
Concho
6
1
7
Tom Green
5
2
7
Milam
0
7
7
Medina
2
6
8
Bastrop
3
3
6
Mills
5
0
5
Upton
3
2
5
Brazoria
1
4
5
Terrell
0
3
3
The Texas Pecan Show validates pecan growing throughout the state of Texas State winners have come from all regions: Brazoria county, etc.
Introduces new pecan varieties and provides feedback on variety performance to growers, extension agents and pecan researchers/breeders. Helps identify/reveal valuable genetic diversity in natives. The best growers are identified and rewarded for their devotion to pecan growing. The Pecan Show teaches a large # of people how to grade pecans for commercial marketing.
Even though grading isn’t an absolute determination of price.
Validates that either by chance or by intent, high quality pecans can be produced every year in Texas even in bad years. Reinforces standing recommendations for growing pecans small scale and large scale. The Texas Pecan Show was a successful vehicle for promoting pecans and TPGA from the 1950’s to 1980’s.
1968 Show was moved to Wonderland Shopping City (San Antonio) for 3 days after TPGA Conf.
Having the same impact today?
What does pecan show tell us about variety utilization in Texas? Are there trends in implementation?
Does the pecan show reveal increased capability of pecan growers to produce good quality pecans or larger pecans? Are there qualitative trends?
Is the pecan show a barometer of the interest in growing pecans in Texas? What does the pecan show tell us about how to grow pecans? Repeat winners have invaluable insight to pecan culture. Need more feedback on what they did or didn’t do.
Bluefford Hancock Fred Brison Benton Storey George Ray McEachern Robert Kensing Mac Gilliat Eddie Holland Dorothy See Larry Stein John Begnaud Sammy Helmers Tommy Thompson L.J. Grauke Frank Churchill, Frank’s Trophy Shop-San Saba George Madden
Pecan show data from 1966 to 1973 1988 Data 2006 Winners Monte Nesbitt 979-862-1218 Support/encourage county extension efforts on pecans.
After several centuries of scientifically determining how to torture his fellow man, mankind has decided that the very worst torture is to sit in an uncomfortable position and listen to someone talking an excessive length of time. Some people suspect that certain foreign agents unfriendly to the U.S. got this idea while trying to infiltrate some of the numerous conventions held in our great country. For this reason everything short of an electric cattle prod will be used to keep the program moving, interesting, interspersed with enough breaks and stretching periods to prevent hardening of the arteries and on schedule.
Al H. Krezdorn, TPGA Secretary
