2023

57th Annual

WPGA Pecan Conference & Trade Show

Las Cruces Convention Center

March 5th-7th, 2023

Pesticides Applicator CEU Credit Available

What Is This ---

ACCOMMODATIONS

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Conference & Equipment Trade Show

Activities

Food Fantasy Contest
Sunday
March 5th
8 am

Join us for the Karin Davidson Pecan Food Fantasy Contest on Sunday, March 5th at 8 am. Winners will receive a cash prize, and be featured on the Pecan Food Fantasy Blog. Winning dishes will be auctioned during our Banquet on March 7th. Proceeds will benefit the WPGA Scholarship Fund.

If you would like to become a Karin Davidson Pecan Food Fantasy contestant, please click on the button below for more details.

BBQ Lunch Cookout
Sunday
March 5th
Noon- 2 pm

BIG STAR AG SOURCE will host a BBQ lunch cookout for the WPGA ATTENDEE & VENDORS. Name badges are Required

This lunch is also sponsored by:

ACE Hardware Big Star Helena
Savage Equipment Farm Credit New Mexico

Corn Hole Tournament
Sunday
March 5th
1-4 pm & 5-8 pm

Join us for the WPGA Equipment Trade Show Cornhole Tournament on Sunday, March 5th, from 1 pm - 4 pm at the Las Cruces convention center parking lot.

The Cornhole Championship will be held during the welcome reception in the vendor exhibition hall from 5 pm - 8 pm

For more information about the Equipment Trade Show, click the button below.

Welcome Reception
Sunday
March 5th

5-8 pm

The WPGA Welcome Reception commences at 5 pm - 8 pm on Sunday, March 5th, at the Las Cruces Convention Center Vendor Exhibition Hall. Come and meet the rest of the WPGA Attendees & Vendors.

Name Badges are Required!

Educational Program
 Monday & Tuesday
March 6th, & 7th

The educational program will feature presentations on issues related to the pecan cultural practices, industry updates, pecan research, marketing and economics, pest management, and reports from related support organizations.

WPGA is making changes to the exhibitor presentations as their presentations with be interspersed with the regular educational programs.  Exhibitors' presentation spaces are offered on the vendor registration form. If you have any questions, you may contact Richard Heerema. You may also find more details on the Vendor Packages Page.

Indoor Exhibition
Sunday  - Tuesday
March 5th- 7th

Come & see the latest innovative products & services geared towards the pecan industry at the Las Cruces Convention Center.

Indoor Vendors Exhibition Hours:
Sunday, March 5th, Noon-8 pm
Monday. March 7th, 8 pm-5 pm
Tuesday. March 8th, 8 am-Noon

Trade Show
Sunday  - Tuesday
March 5th -7th

Join us for the annual WPGA Equipment Exhibition and Trade Show. Featuring exhibitors' products, innovative equipment, and company services from all over the country geared toward the pecan industry.

Hours of operation:

Sunday, March 5th
Noon to 8 pm

Monday, March 6th
8 am to 5 pm

Tuesday, March 7th
8 pm to Noon

Sponsored Lunch
Monday
March 6th
11:30 am - 1 pm

This year's lunch will be served at noon in Ballroom #1. Lunch tickets will be required.

Additional lunch tickets may be purchased at the registration desk or online.

This lunch is also sponsored by:

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OMC
Social Hour/ Cash Bar
Monday, March 6th
6-7pm

The annual WPGA Social Hour on Monday, March 6th, will kick off the Banquet and Auction festivities at 6 pm. A cash bar will be available to our members.

Banquet
Monday
March 6th
7 pm

Join us at 7 pm for the annual WPGA Banquet and Auction at the Las Cruces Convention Center. A cash bar will be available at 6 pm to set off the festivities. All Pecan Food Fantasy Contest-winning dishes will be auctioned during the banquet. Proceeds from this auction will benefit the WPGA Scholarship Fund. Tickets will be available for purchase at the registration desk.

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Karin Davidson

PECAN FOOD FANTASY BLOG

This blog features the Karin Davidson Pecan Food Fantasy Contest winning recipes. 

 

Dulce de Leche Mousse in Pecan Nests

Best of Show, Outstanding Adult and 1st Place in Adult Tarts by: Amy Salopek DULCE DE LECHE MOUSSE IN PECAN NESTS Prep Time: 15 minutes Preheat Oven: 350o F Total Cook Time: 45 minutes Chill Time:...

Browned Butter Pecan Cheesecake

2nd Place in Adult Cheesecake by: Marlene Castillo BROWNED BUTTER PECAN CHEESECAKE  Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes Yields 12-14 slices Ingredients...

Congratulations to all the participants!

Congratulations! We had 169 entries this year and the competition was fierce! The judges had their work cut out. We have set the dates for next year, March 3rd, 2024. We'll be sending out some...

2023 Pecan Food Fantasy Winners

Congratulations2023   

Dutch Oven Jalapeno Cheddar Pecan Bread

Best of Show and 1st place in Youth Yeast Bread by Jenna Schoeppner   Dutch Oven Jalapeno Cheddar Pecan Bread Prep Time: 1 hour Cook Time: 22 minutes Total Time: 4 hours Yield: 8-10 Ingredients...

2022 Results

Quick Bread   1st place Adult- Quick Breads- Apple Pecan Streusel Bread- Elena Tirre 2nd place Adult- Quick Breads Maple Pecan Pie Muffins- Julia Scheiderich 3rd place Adult- Quick Breads Banana...

Turtle Cupcakes

2nd Place Winner- Adult Cupcake Submitted by: Shirley Gonzales   Turtle Cupcakes 1 German chocolate cake mix 14 oz caramels 1/2 c. evaporated milk 3/4 c. melted butter 2 c. nuts 1 c. semi-sweet...

Caliente Snickerdoodles

  Submitted by: Deborah Juarez 1st Place Adult Drop Cookie     DOUGH: All-purpose flour 7 oz Baking powder 1/2 tsp Cinnamon, grounded 1 tsp ginger, grounded 1/2 tsp Pecans, ground 1/2...

Upside Down Pecan Cake

Submitted by: Ella Gamache 1st Place Un-Iced Cake- Youth   Ingredients • 1 cup unsalted butter, divided • 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar • 1/4 cup light corn syrup • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1...

Chocolate Pecan Bars

Submitted by: Abby Eden 1st Place Bar Cookie- Adult   Ingredients Cookie Layers 3/4 cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 tsp. vanilla 1 1/2 cup flour 3/4 cup dark chocolate cocoa powder 1...

Pecan Balls

By: Ella Gamache 1/2 c. Unsalted Butter 1 c. Flour 1 heaping c. Pecans 2 Tbsp. Sugar 1/4 tsp. Salt...

More Fun Pecan Facts

The first documented evidence of nut consumption occurred around 7,000 BC, during the Stone Age....

Aunt Panny’s Toffee

By: Holy Norsworthy 2 c. Salted Butter 2 c. Sugar 1/4 c. Water 2 Tbsp. White Corn Syrup 12 oz....

Guidelines for Traditional Pecan Pies

Karin Davidson Pecan Food Fantasy Contest Sponsored by Western Pecan Growers Association  ...

Pecan Delight Macarons

Submitted by: Debora Juarez Best of Show & 1st Place Other Cookie- Adult   COOKIE: Almond...

Cinnamon Apple and Pecan Cheesecake

Submitted by: Emily Willis Outstanding Adult & 1st Place     1 ½ c finely crushed...

Upside Down Pecan Cake

Submitted by: Ella Gamache 1st Place Un-Iced Cake- Youth   Ingredients • 1 cup unsalted...

Chocolate Pecan Bars

Submitted by: Abby Eden 1st Place Bar Cookie- Adult   Ingredients Cookie Layers 3/4 cup...

Italian Cream Cake

Submitted by: Elizabeth Gravenstein 1st Place Iced Cakes- Youth Servings : 12 Author : Melissa...

Carmelitas Carmelas Chocolate Rojo

  Submitted by: Sana Handley 1st Place Candy- Adult   2 cups sugar 2 cups brown sugar 2...

Pecan Banana Muffins

Submitted by: Marianne Davis 1st Place Quick Breads- Adult   Flour 1 3/4 Cup Baking Powder 2...

Western Pecan Growers Association Scholarship

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Scholarship

Are you a passionate student with an interest in pecans? The WPGA Is offering a scholarship to undergraduate and graduate students. Tell us about yourself and you might be eligible for a scholarship from the WPGA. 

WPGA Scholarship News

Scholarship winners will be announced here.

Paul Gabriel WPGA 2022 Graduate Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations2022 WPGAScholarship RecipientsWPGA 2022 Graduate Scholarship Recipient Meet Paul Gabriel, a Molecular Biology/ Pecan Root Microbiome Graduate Student at New Mexico State University. Paul’s research will concentrate “on the influence of soil microbiome...

McKenzie Stock WPGA 2022 Graduate Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations2022 WPGAScholarship RecipientsWPGA 2022 Graduate Scholarship Recipient I am a Master’s student at NMSU studying Plant & Environmental Science at ACES College. I am also a researcher in Dr. Nicole Pietrasiak’s Lab. I want to focus my thesis on...

Alex Armijo WPGA 2022 Graduate Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations2022 WPGAScholarship RecipientsWPGA 2022 Graduate Scholarship Recipient Meet Alex Armijo a Graduate Student at New Mexico State University. His research focuses on “three species of pecan aphids (yellow complex and black pecan aphid) and what cultural...

Zachery Martin WPGA 2022 Undergrad Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations2022 WPGAScholarship RecipientsWPGA 2022 Undergrad Scholarship Recipient Before graduating with an Associate of Arts Degree from New Mexico Military Institute Junior College in Business Administration and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May...

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