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Next ‘Largest Pecan’ unveiled
Published October 26, 2008
SEGUIN — It was a little picture with big significance.
During Saturday’s Pecan Fest Heritage Days, officials unveiled a rendering of the new World’s Largest Pecan.
“We had hoped to have the pecan by today, but today we have a drawing,” said Sherry Nefford, director of Seguin Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Great things come slowly sometimes.”
For years, Seguin claimed to be home of the World’s Largest Pecan, but found out recently that the pecan statue outside of the Guadalupe County Courthouse is not, in fact, largest on Earth.
So last year, officials from the Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce, the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the Texas Agricultural Education and Heritage Center set out to reclaim the title.
Ron Heinemeyer, a board member at the ag center, said he was proud that the pecan sculpture would be placed on the center’s grounds on Cordova Road.
“We’re very excited about the pecan,” he said. “It’s one of the largest crops in Guadalupe County and it deserves a place of honor here.”
Nefford said that Jim Stephenson, owner of Waterpark Experts, is helping to create the pecan. His business on Kingsbury Street designs and creates sculptures for water parks and resorts all over the world.
The Seguin sculpture is entitled “Squirrel Hug,” and features a nut of undisclosed size with a small squirrel figure hugging the pecan.
“We’re not revealing the size today,” Nefford said.
Mayor Betty Ann Matthies said she looks forward to Seguin regaining it’s pecan-bragging rights.
“It will be great for Seguin to be No. 1 in something else,” she said. “We already have the largest mobile pecan at Pape’s Pecan House, and soon we will again have the largest stationary pecan.”
The pecan announcement tops off a weekend of nutty fun in Seguin.
Starting Friday, the Pecan Fest and Heritage Days offered activities for every age and interest at several locations throughout town.
Saturday’s offerings included a Tour de Pecan bike ride, film festival, tours of historic properties, and a pottery show at Wilson Pottery, as well as scores of exhibits and games at the ag center. The center, also known as the Big Red Barn, was also hopping with activities including hayrides, a hay maze, washers and horseshoes, farm and homemaking exhibits, a farmer’s market and
Shoppers flocked to Trade Days and the Guadalupe Valley Gardeners’ Market in Central Park, while wishful-thinkers made their way to the Lions Club Car Show.
In the evening, revelers filled the street during a dance and practiced a promenade during the Hoity Toity Hat Parade as just part of an evening of entertainment.
John Pape, owner of Pape’s Pecan House, said he was excited to help promote Seguin as the Pecan Capital — or at least one of the Pecan Capitals.
“It promotes pecans as a seasonal business and also is a way for us to direct people to our new store on the South 123 Bypass,” he said.
Volunteer Linda Miller added that Guadalupe County is a wonderful place for Seguin’s favorite nut to flourish.
“The river bottom pecan orchards, that grow down real close to the river, that’s the place to get the best and richest pecans,” she said.
Whether you’re a pecan connoisseur or a nut novice, it’s clear that Pecan Festival Heritage Days were a hit.
Mary Jo Filip, director of the Main Street Program, said she could not be happier about the response from visitors and from businesses and non-profits around town.
“I think it’s a big opportunity for Seguin to put on a really positive face while attracting people to the history and heritage of Seguin,” she said. “I think anyone who visits today will realize that Seguin is a really cool place.”
Emma Pinsky certainly seemed impressed. The 7-year-old watched in fascination as volunteer Janet Welsch helped her piece together a patchwork quilt sample.
“I like quilts and stuff,” she said. “My grand-grandma makes them.”
Emma’s grandmother, Seguin resident Shirley Hand, said she knew the festival would be a great place to take her grandchildren, who are visiting from Austin.
“We’re here to have fun and check out all the activities,” she said.
Amanda and Eric Leach, made their way to Seguin from New Braunfels early Saturday to ride in the Tour de Pecan. But when they finished their ride, the couple was surprised to see a bustle of activity around the Big Red Barn.
“We’ve just been walking around and enjoying things, like there’s a guitar player and a guy who has a great woodworking display,” she said.
Marilyn Altwein, chairwoman for the ag center’s portion of the festival and a member of the board, said she was thrilled with the turnout.
“We have a great crowd, great participation, great vendors, great presenters — even the weather is beautiful,” she said.
For a full slate of today’s events visit seguingonuts.com
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