The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will hold the Bell-Williamson County Pecan Show on Dec. 13 and the Williamson County Pecan Food Show on Dec. 15.
The Bell-Williamson County Pecan Show will be held at the AgriLife Extension office in Bell County, 1605 N. Main St., Belton. Any county resident with a pecan tree may compete for free in the nut competition and all are invited to come out to watch.
“The pecan show is a fun way to learn more about all the pecan varieties we can grow in Texas,” said Kate Whitney, AgriLife Extension family and community health agent for Williamson County. “We have dozens of varieties grown in our area, and it’s neat to compare the crop as they are weighed and judged.”
The Williamson County Pecan Food Show will be at the AgriLife Extension office in Williamson County, 100 Wilco Way, Georgetown. Entry drop-off will begin at 8:15 a.m.
“The food show is the chance for residents to show off their skills and be recognized as having the most delicious pecan recipe,” Whitney said.
Bell-Williamson County Pecan Show
Pecans entered in the pecan show must be from the 2022 crop and grown in Williamson or Bell counties. Williamson County entries must be received by noon on Dec. 12 at the AgriLife Extension office in Williamson County. Bell County entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Dec. 9 at the AgriLife Extension office in Bell County.
The event will begin at 9 a.m. on Dec. 13. Judging will begin at 10 a.m., after the nuts have been cracked, weighed and classified.
“The pecan show is a chance to learn about all the factors that go into making a good pecan crop like nutrition, water and integrated pest management,” Whitney said. “A pecan grower can make changes for next year to improve the quality of the crop based on what they learn at the show.”
Bill Ree, retired AgriLife Extension pecan integrated pest management specialist, Bryan-College Station, will provide a one-hour educational program about pecan production.
Pecan show rules are as follows:
- Exhibitors are limited to one entry of each named variety they grow; however, the grower may enter as many seedlings, known hybrids or natives as desired.
- The exhibitor must be the grower, and pecans must be grown in Williamson or Bell counties.
- An entry consists of a minimum of 40 pecans, with 42 preferred.
- Entries should be in a paper sack and identified with grower name, address, phone number and variety, if known.
- Entries containing more than one variety will be disqualified; however, an entry may be composed of nuts of the same variety from more than one tree.
- Nuts that are cut, sanded, polished or otherwise altered will be disqualified.
Williamson County Pecan Food Show
The cost is $5 per entry and one item per class may be entered. All entries must have been prepared by the exhibitor, be in a disposable container and have the recipe attached.
There are two age divisions for each category. The junior division is for youth in grades K-12. The adult division is age 18 and up.
The categories are:
- Pecan Pie.
- Pecan Bread and Rolls.
- Pecan Candy.
- Pecan Cookies.
- Pecan Bars.
- Pecan Cakes.
- Pecan Fancy Nuts.
Food show entries must be dropped off on Dec. 15 from 8:15 a.m.-noon at the Williamson County office. Judging will begin at noon. Entries must be picked up by 5:30 p.m. or they will become property of the county office.
Visit https://williamson.agrilife.org/ for a complete listing of the rules and requirements and additional information. Contact Whitney at 512-943-3300 for additional information.
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