Each entry had to be outstanding on the county level before being eligible for San Angelo's competition. Dr. Larry Stein, Texas Agricultural Extension Service horticulturist at Uvalde, judged the show. Matthies said this year's entries were superior to last year's thanks to timely rains in many leading pecan growing areas. Matthies said the show is educational for both the consumer and grower. We want to show how much meat or kernel various varieties yield, because there is a wide variation between varieties.
Different varieties yield different amounts.
Some yield as high as 60 percent kernel and others, like some of the natives, only yield in the mid to even low 30 percent range. The show also allows growers to exhibit their product in its best light. It's good advertisement for the producer and the West Texas pecan industry. The West Texas Regional Pecan Show was started more than 30 years ago by Robert Kensing, retired Extension economist and pecan enthusiast who was based in San Angelo for many years. Kensing now ranches in Menard County.