Entries in the Central Regional Pecan Show, those coming through county pecan shows and by at-large process, were judged February 5th at TAMU HortTREC facility. There were 106 entries, including 33 named varieties of improved pecans, variety seedlings, and natives entered by 37 different growers or organizations in 8 different counties.
The judges for the show were members of the USDA-ARS Pecan Breeding & Genetics Lab, College Station, including Keith Kubenka, Braden Tondre, and Elin Swank.
Commercial Division Champions were Eric Olson, Palo Pinto County (Grand-Hopi cultivar), James Smith, Comanche County (Reserve-Mohawk cultivar)
Classic & New Division Champions were Eric Olson, Palo Pinto County (Grand-Lipan cultivar), Eddie Holland, San Saba County (Reserve-Comanche cultivar)
Native Division Champions were Texcan, San Saba County (Grand), Mike & Alta Hopkins, Palo Pinto County (Reserve).
Others placing from San Saba County were:
Burkett 1st Place Steve Stifflemire
Cheyenne 1st Place Jackie Brister
Choctaw 1st Place Steve Stifflemire
Desirable 1st Place Lance Hill
Elliott 1st Place Texcan
Kiowa 1st Place Robert Sawyer
Lightest Pecan 2nd Place Jackie Brister
Lightest Pecan 3rd Place Jerry Deaver
Nacono 1st Place Lance Hill
Oconee 1st Place Steve Stifflemire
Pawnee 1st Place Dickie Eckhoff
Prilop 1st Place Texcan
San Saba Improved 1st Place Vicki Key
Schley 1st Place Randy Baxter
Western 2nd Place Vicki Key
Wichita 1st Place Vicki Key
Special Thanks to the following people who helped us crack and shell pecans: Kelsey Wallis, Tim Meier, Robert Luedeker, Jim White, Sarah Dieringer, Clint Tucker, and Dr. George Ray McEachern
TAMU Horticultural Sciences staff assisting with cracking, shelling, and sample processing: Mike O’Leary, Katelynn Schneider, Jace Bushman, Charlotte Delaney, Alanna Henry, Maddisen Crook.
Don’t forget: The 104th Annual Texas Pecan Growers Conference & Trade Show is July 20-23, 2025, in Denton, Texas.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is an equal opportunity employer and program provider. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.