2024

58th Annual

WPGA Pecan Conference & Trade Show

Las Cruces Convention Center

March 3rd-5th, 2024

The Webinar is for Current WPGA Members Only

The 2023 WPGA

Webinar Videos

Are now available!

Quarter Webinar Series

June 13, 2022

Video Recordings

Membership Details

Options:

WPGA Non-Conference Membership – $125.00 USD

2023 Memberships are good until March 1st of 2024.

2024 registration renewals will resume in January for the 2024 WPGA Conference and Trade Show Membership.

The WPGA Board is now offering new ways to provide information and education services as part of our ongoing commitment to our membership:

  • A Quarterly Email Newsletter will be sent out to all our members to provide industry updates, extension/research reports, and communication from our board members.
  • Access to Quarterly Webinar Series with the opportunity to earn (CEU) Continuing Education Units.
  • Pecan Advocacy in Washington D.C. through National Pecan Federation (NPF), as well as marketing benefits from the American Pecan Promotion Board (APPB). 

  • WPGA membership includes Subscriptions to National Nut Grower, Pecan South Magazine, Pacific Nut Producer, and The Pecan Grower Magazine. Restrictions apply to international addresses.  

Pecan South Magazine Pacific Nut Producer
National Nut Growers Logo TPG Logo Green Background (1)

Your WPGA Board is consistently working on other ways we can provide opportunities for outreach, education, and connecting with our membership.  Please visit our site frequently to stay up to date.  Please contact us if you have any questions and we will be happy to assist you.

WPGA Membership

WPGA Memberships are still available.

If you would like to make a donation to WPGA, please click on the donate button. Please retain your receipt for your records.

WPGAFoodFantasy2022Web160x300

Visit our blog for all award-winning pecan recipes.

Greyson’s Green Chile Pecan Lemon Bars

1st Place in Youth Savory by: Greyson Baldillez   GREYSON’S GREEN CHILE PECAN LEMON BARS Prep Time:    20 minutes Oven Temp:   350 Cook Time:   30-40 min Cool Time:    120 min Total Time:   3...

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...

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...

Pecan Balls

By: Ella Gamache 1/2 c. Unsalted Butter 1 c. Flour 1 heaping c. Pecans 2 Tbsp. Sugar 1/4 tsp. Salt Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Cream the softened butter, sugar and flour. Fold in the pecans and...

More Fun Pecan Facts

The first documented evidence of nut consumption occurred around 7,000 BC, during the Stone Age. Many varieties of pecan are alternate-bearing. This means that one year the tree will produce large...

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. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips 1/2 c. Chopped Pecans Melt butter over low heat. Add sugar, water and syrup....

Guidelines for Traditional Pecan Pies

Karin Davidson Pecan Food Fantasy Contest Sponsored by Western Pecan Growers Association   Guidelines for Traditional Pecan Pies Please use the following guidelines if you are entering a...

Pecan Delight Macarons

Submitted by: Debora Juarez Best of Show & 1st Place Other Cookie- Adult   COOKIE: Almond flour, room temperature 6 oz Pecans, ground 3 oz Corn starch 2 tsp Cocoa powder 2 tsp Powder sugar...

Cinnamon Apple and Pecan Cheesecake

Submitted by: Emily Willis Outstanding Adult & 1st Place     1 ½ c finely crushed shortbread cookies (about 5 ounces)   1/2 c finely crushed candied pecans (plus 1/2 c to decorate...

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...

Italian Cream Cake

Submitted by: Elizabeth Gravenstein 1st Place Iced Cakes- Youth Servings : 12 Author : Melissa Sperka Ingredients 2 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 cup salted butter...

Carmelitas Carmelas Chocolate Rojo

  Submitted by: Sana Handley 1st Place Candy- Adult   2 cups sugar 2 cups brown sugar 2 cups dark corn syrup 2 cups butter 4 cups heavy cream 4 tablespoons vanilla 4 cups pecans Salt Dark...

Western Pecan Growers Association Scholarship

$Brown

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...