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Sunday, March 2nd
8:00 a.m. - Noon Karin Davidson Pecan Food Fantasy Entry Submissions - Ballroom
11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Registration – LCCC Southwest Entrance
Noon – 2:00 p.m. BBQ Lunch - LCCC South parking lot
Sponsored by: Big Star Ag Source and Savage Equipment
1:30 – 4:00 p.m. Cornhole Tournament – LCCC South Parking Lot
Sponsored by: El Paso Gun Exchange, Nueces New Mexico, RJK Equipment, LLC and Rio Bravo Farms
1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Pecan Trade and Equipment Show Opening - Exhibition Hall, North Hallway, and LCCC South parking lot
5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Welcome Reception – Exhibition Hall
Sponsored by: RKJ Equipment, Helena Agri Enterprises, LLC; Mesquite and AgTrust Farm Credit until out, then cash bar.
Name badges required
4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Cornhole Championship Games – Exhibition Hall
Team Award sponsored by El Paso Gun Exchange, Nueces New Mexico, RJK Equipment LLC and Rio Bravo Farms
Monday, March 3rd
7:00 a.m. -5:0 p.m. Registration – LCCC Southwest Entrance
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Pecan Trade and Equipment Show Continues - Exhibition Hall, North Hallway, and South Parking Lot
8:30 -11:45 a.m. WPGA Educational Program – Morning Session Ballroom
11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Luncheon - Ballroom
Sponsored by: Aerobotics US, Inc., Bergen Ag Innovations, Corteva Agriscience, Helena Agri Enterprises, LLC – Artesia, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, National Pecan Company, Nichino America, Inc., Nutrien Ag Solutions, Pecan Nut-Buster, Simplot Grower Solutions, Western Blend & Tank
1:15 -5:00 p.m. WPGA Educational Program – Afternoon Session - Ballroom
5:15 – 6:00 p.m. National Pecan Federation Meet & Greet Social - Rooms 7, 8 & 9 (Grower donation to NFP suggested)
Hosted Reception sponsored by AgTrust Farm Credit
6:00 -7:00 p.m. Social and Networking Hour – Banquet Hall
Hosted Reception sponsored by Tarleton State University & NM State University
7:00-10:00 p.m. WPGA Banquet and Auction - Ballroom
Sponsored by: Albaugh, LLC., American Pecan Promotion Board, AMVT LLC, Famers Investment FICO, National Pecan Company, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Roadrunner Pecans, Soil & Crop. Inc., Southern Roots Nut Company, Simplot Grower Solutions, Western Blend & Tank
Tuesday, March 4th
8:00 -11:00 a.m. Pecan Trade and Equipment Show - Exhibition Hall, North Hallway, and South Parking Lot
8:30 a.m.-Noon WPGA Educational Program Continued – Morning Session - Ballroom
10:45-11:15 a.m. WPGA General Meeting and Member Recognition - Ballroom
Brycen Salopek, WPGA President
2025 WPGA Educational Program
Monday, March 3rd, 2025
Morning Session
Moderator: Mr. Jeff Anderson
Doña Ana County Extension Agriculture Agent
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico
8:30-8:35 a.m. Welcome
Mr. Brycen Salopek, WPGA President , Las Cruces, NM
8:35-9:00 a.m. Keynote Address:
Where in the World Shall We Go?
Mr. Jeff Witte Secretary of Agriculture New Mexico Department of Agriculture Las Cruces, NM
9:00-9:30 a.m. Planning for Profitability
Dr. Charlie Graham Senior Regenerative Ranching Advisor Noble Research Institute Ardmore, OK
9:30-9:45 a.m. Vendor Presentation: American AgCredit
9:45-10:15 a.m. Sponsored Break – Coffee & Desserts
Sponsored by Ag Bio Fusion, American Ag Credit, Aerobotics, BASF, Bayer Crop Science, Desert Valley Irrigation, Dixie Ranch Inc, Farmers Investment FICO, Hydro Resources Midcontinent, Inc., Orchard Machinery Corp – OMC
10:15 a.m. CASH DRAWING!!!!! Must be present to win
10:15-10:30 a.m. Vendor Presentation: AMVT LLC
10:30 –10:40 a.m. Online Educational Games and Tools for Pecans
Dr. Barbara Chamberlin Professor of Instructional Design, Game Developer, Researcher New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM
&
Ms. Amy Smith Muise Editor, Innovative Media Research and Extension New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM
10:40 –11:10 a.m. Pecans Go Global: Tapping into India’s Demand for Premium Nuts
Mr. Juan Sanchez International Marketing Specialist New Mexico Department of Agriculture Las Cruces, NM
&
Ms. Serena Schaffner Chief Marketing Officer American Pecan Council/American Pecan Promotion Board Fort Worth, TX
11:10–11:30 a.m. Pecans for Generations: Defying Heat, Drought, Salinity and Nutrient Deficiencies
Ms. Doris Alexa Arnedo Master's Student (advisor: Dr. Jennifer Randall) New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM
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Ms. Sahithi Pulicherla Ph.D. Student (advisor: Dr. Jennifer Randall) New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM
11:30-11:45 a.m. Vendor Presentation: Soil and Crop Inc.
11:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m. WPGA Sponsored Lunch - Ballroom
Afternoon Session
Moderator: Mr. Orlando Flores El Paso County Extension Agriculture Agent Texas A&M AgriLife Extension El Paso, TX
1:15 p.m. CASH DRAWING!!!!! Must be present to win
1:15–1:30 p.m. Vendor Presentation: NM Office of State Engineer AMIGO Program (by Mr. Alfred Perrault)
1:30-1:50 p.m. Assessing Satellite-based Crop ET Estimates Using OpenET Platform Tool.
Dr. Salim Bawazir Civil Engineering Professor New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM
1:50- 2:10 p.m. Mastering OpenET: Efficient Data Retrieval for Pecan Water Management
Mr. Jamin Miller Master's Student (advisor: Dr. Richard Heerema) New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM
2:10-2:30 p.m. Combining Advanced Sensor Technologies and AI to Improve Irrigation Efficiencies in Pecan Orchards
Dr. Kurt Solander Research Scientist Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM
2:30-2:45 p.m. Vendor Presentation: OMC
2:45–3:15 p.m. Sponsored Break – Coffee & Desserts
Sponsored by Ag Bio Fusion, American Ag Credit, Aerobotics, BASF, Bayer Crop Science, Desert Valley Irrigation, Dixie Ranch Inc, Farmers Investment FICO, Hydro Resources Midcontinent, Inc., Orchard Machinery Corp – OMC
3:15 p.m. CASH DRAWING!!!!! Must be present to win
3:15-3:30 p.m. Vendor Presentation: Ag Bio Fusion
3:30– 4:00 p.m. Building Biodiversity: Factors Influencing the Pecan Soil and Root Microbiome
Ms. McKenzie Stock Ph.D. student (advisor: Dr. Richard Heerema) New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM
4:00– 4:30 p.m. Beneath the Canopy: Nuts About Orchard Floor Management
Dr. Kim Cervantes Horticulture Specialist Texas A&M University El Paso, TX
&
Dr. Richard Heerema Pecan Specialist New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM
4:30– 5:00 p.m. Beneficial Insects: Small but Mighty
Dr. Kristen Bowers Research Entomologist New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM
6:00-7:00 p.m. Social & Networking Hour (Host Bar)
7:00-10:00 p.m. WPGA Banquet & Food Fantasy Auction
Tuesday, March 4th, 2025
Final Session
Moderator: Mr. Drew Garnett
Chaves County Extension Agriculture Agent
New Mexico State University
Roswell, New Mexico
8:30 a.m. CASH DRAWING!!!!! Must be present to win
8:30 –8:45 a.m. Vendor Presentation: Desert Valley Irrigation
8:45 –9:00a.m. Enhancing the Sustainability of Pecan Production through Hedge-Pruning
Ms. Bailey Rayfield Master's Student (advisor: Dr. Lenny Wells)/Senior Manager of Industry Relations University of Georgia/American Pecan Council Tifton, GA
9:00– 9:30 a.m. Unprepared and Underestimated: Hurricane Helene's Impact on Pecans in East Georgia
Mr. Arren Moses Edward Moses Farms Uvalda, GA
9:30—10:00 a.m. Pecan Production Outlook for Mexico
Mr. Arsenio Gonzalez President Comenuez Jimenez, Chihuahua, Mexico
10:00 - 10:15 a.m. Vendor Presentation: TBD
10:15– 10:45 a.m. Sponsored Break – Coffee & Desserts
Sponsored byAg Bio Fusion, American Ag Credit, Aerobotics, BASF, Bayer Crop Science, Desert Valley Irrigation, Dixie Ranch Inc, Farmers Investment FICO, Hydro Resources Midcontinent, Inc., Orchard Machinery Corp – OMC
10:45 a.m. CASH DRAWING!!!!! Must be present to win
10:45- 11:00 a.m. Vendor Presentation: TBD
11:00 -11:15 a.m. WPGA Annual Member Meeting
11:15 a.m.–noon Remaining Profitable with High Production Expenses
Moderator: Dr. Richard Heerema
Panelists:
Mr. Rafael Rovirosa (NM)
Mr. Rich Walden (AZ)
Mr. Lalo Medina (TX and NM)
Mr. Arren Moses (GA)
Adjourn
Please return your name badges and have a safe trip home
Please thank and support our 2025 sponsors!
HAVE A SAFE TRIP HOME!
Don’t forget to pick up your CCAs and CEUs (NM, TX, and AZ) at the registration desk.