The Gazette-Enterprise

GERONIMO — The pecan capital of Texas will once again hold the title for the world’s largest pecan.

Mel Grones at the Texas Agricultural Education and Heritage Center said they are looking forward to bringing the honor back to Guadalupe County.

“Somebody in Missouri had a bigger pecan,” Grones said. “So we have to build an even bigger pecan.”

The project was started about a month ago with just a few sketches. Then framing began on the 16-foot-long and 8-foot-diameter pecan. McCullough’s Welding took on the project, Grones said.

Marilyn Altwein with the center said this project has been on the drawing board for a long time now, but is just now seeing some results.

“It will be good for the red barn and good for the city,” Altwein said.

The project began as a concept about two years ago with Sherry Nefford-Esse and the Seguin Chamber of Commerce. Nefford-Esse said the chamber has provided some funds for the pecan.

“We’re very excited about the pecan,” Nefford-Esse said. “We think it’s just amazing.”

Now that the framing is finished, the structure needs some more work before it can truly be the world’s largest pecan. Grones said they are planning on having it wrapped in fiberglass and painted to look like a pecan.

Leadership Seguin is considering taking it on as a project. Melissa Matthews-Woolard of Leadership Seguin said it is one of several community service projects they are interested in.

“We have about three or four more projects on the table,” Matthews-Woolard said. “We will present them to our board of advisors on Nov. 5 before we know which one we go with.”

Leadership Seguin recently helped build a running track at Weinert Elementary for the students and faculty to use. Gene Meyers of Leadership Seguin said the benefits of the pecan will stand the test of time.

“This will further the economic development of Seguin by bringing recognition to the community,” Meyers said. “There are a lot of long-term benefits with having this pecan.”

Even if the project isn’t funded by an outside organization, the Texas Agricultural Education and Heritage center plans on completing the pecan.

“We will pursue this thing on our own,” Grones said. “We will raise the money for it if we have to.”

Grones said they plan on having the pecan at the center.

They are considering having it on a cradle to which wheels can be attached if it needs to be moved, or if it is wanted in parades.

The pecan will be visible from State Highway 123, and will have spotlights so that it can be seen at night.

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