Nuts About FFA - And One Proud Momma

Just a few days before America celebrated Independence Day, I was down in Fort Worth Texas celebrating my daughter, Dotty, as she received her Lonestar FFA Degree at the Texas FFA State Convention.  I may not have been wearing red, white and blue, but my heart was bursting like a Rushing's Pyrotechnics fireworks finale! I was one very proud momma!

While I grew up in an ag family and now work in the industry at the Pecan Shed, I didn't experience FFA firsthand.  So Dotty's FFA journey has been a whole new world for me.  And what a ride it's been!

Her freshman year, she enrolled in her first ag class and jumped into LDEs (Leadership Development Events).  I called her Official Dress a costume (oops) and got lovingly corrected...it's OD, thank you very much!  That spring she told me her bunnies were now officially part of her SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience).  Later, she started preparing for a CDE (Career Development Event) in entomology - yes bugs!  Her Papa kept asking if the pecan weevil was on any of the tests...sadly it was not. She wrapped up the year by writing a speech on the pecan industry for her SDE (Speaking Development Event) and she even ran for chapter office.  

I had a front row seat to a year that was exciting, confusing, rewarding, hard, hilarious, and absolutely packed with acronyms I still get mixed up.  But I wouldn't trade it for anything.  The miles, the early mornings, the late nights...they were all worth it for the banners, buckles, and memories...and especially the community we found in blue and gold.  

From there, she went all in.  Dotty added goats to her SAE and launched a fundraiser she calls "Nuts About FFA" selling our family's pecans to local chapters to use as a fall fundraiser for their school FFA program.  She has been a State Qualifier in LDE, SDE, and CDE events...placing in the top 10 in Texas twice.  She's served as her chapter's Vice President and now enters her second year as Chapter President.  She's also a former District Officer and currently serves as the First Vice President for Area Officers.  

Now a senior, Dotty shows no signs of slowing down.  Her love for FFA and the people who make it so special has inspired her to pursue a degree in Ag Communications.  Her dream is to spend her life "Agvocating for Agriculture" and the values it represents. 

And what a blessing it's been to watch the village surround her.  Incredible ag teachers, mentors, and folks from our community have poured into Dotty with wisdom, encouragement, and and their most precious asset...time.  I don't know exactly what her future holds, but I know Who holds it and I know FFA has shaped her heart, her character, and her calling.

Dotty has often said that FFA is her happy place...and I believe her.  Watching her grow in leadership and purpose has changed me too.  I believe in the future of agriculture and I believe in our future...period.  It's in good hands. 

At the Pecan Shed we believe in strong roots and we've seen firsthand how FFA helps grow the next generation of agricultural leaders.  We couldn't be more proud to support the young men and women who are living out the FFA motto every day:

Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.

Why Rainy Days Are a Blessing for Pecan Farmers

Puddles aren't something we usually see around Texas in late June...but when they do show up, they are a welcomed sight at the Pecan Shed.

The recent rains have done more than just cool things off.  They have brought a much needed boost to our pecan orchards right when our trees are hard at work growing this year's crop.  Mature pecan trees need about two inches of water each week during the hot summer months of June through August.  This consistent moisture keeps the trees healthy, reduces stress, and...most importantly...helps the pecans develop full, flavorful kernels.

Because let's be honest, no one wants a shriveled or dried out pecan in their holiday pies or snack bowls. Full, plump pecan meats start with good hydration.  

When rain is not an option we rely on irrigation to get the job done.  But irrigation isn't cheap.  Between the high electricity costs of running the system and the hours our team spends checking and making repairs to it, the price adds up quickly.  So when the skies open up and give us some rain, it's not just good for the trees...it's good for the whole operation.

Sure, rainy days might slow down outdoor plans, get our trucks a little muddy, and stir up a few extra thousand or so mosquitoes.  But to us, the sound of rain on the roof is the sound of provision.  It's the sound of God watering the land.  It means stronger trees, better pecans, and a healthier harvest to share with all of you.

So from all of us here at the Pecan Shed, thank you for celebrating the rain with us!  It truly is a blessing in every drop!  

Quality Matters

 

Earlier this week while I was shopping at a local grocery store, I noticed a display with pecans in it.  I will be honest, at first I thought they were roasted or toasted.

Sadly, they were not.  

They were labeled as "Jr. Mammoth Halves" which means they are plain pecans...no seasoning...no baking...just raw pecans.  (Jr. Mammoth is a size qualification used in the pecan industry.)

 I decided to buy a few ounces to show the comparison between those grocery store pecans and ours.  

Pecan Shed Pawnee Halves are on the left and the grocery store pecans are on the right.  

Our Pawnee Halves are also classified as Jr. Mammoth Halves based on their size.  The Pawnee pecan is a variety within that category of pecans. 

I am sure you can see the difference and no doubt you can almost taste the difference from this picture as well!

Natural pecan halves, if stored properly, should be "golden" in color year round.  Proper storage also ensures the pecans will retain their fresh quality and flavor.  

Our pecans are harvest October through February each year.  During these cooler months, newly harvested pecans can be stored at room temperature.  However, when our part of Texas starts to heat up in mid to late March, we begin keeping all our pecans in refrigerated commercial coolers.  In the retail stores, we only bring out a few bags to keep on our shelves at a time and the rest stay refrigerated until we need to restock.  If we still have pecans left over when the next harvest begins, we will freeze those pecans (but often we run out close to the end of September).  

While I am not certain where the grocery store pecans came from, many grocery stores and big box stores buy pecans from large shelling companies.  These facilities can have up to two years worth of pecans in stock.  So pecans you might be buying today could potentially already be two years old.  And many retailers don't keep the stock refrigerated once they arrive at their facilities, which is why the pecans turn darker in color and begin to lose their fresh taste.

This time of year, even in your own home, if you don't plan to use the pecans within a day or two of your purchase it is best to keep them refrigerated or you can always freeze them.  Pecans can be stored in airtight containers and frozen for up to 2 years (although my mom has kept them much longer than that!)  They key is the airtight container.  Pecans do absorb odors, thus if the container is not airtight pecans can taste like freezer burn. 

Another way we at the Pecan Shed try to ensure our pecans retain their quality, is to only ship pecans Monday through Wednesday during the warmer days of the year.  We don't want our pecans to be in transit too long while temperatures are high.  And remember, when you get them, it is best to either consume the pecans or store them in the refrigerator or freezer.  Don't leave them in your car, on your counter or in your cabinets! Pecans are a perishable food item.     

Here are the general rules for storing pecans...

Happy Father's Day 2025

 Father's Day 2025

Happy Father's Day to all the dads and dad-like guys out there!!!

And big hugs for my own dad, Tim Montz, and my brother, Jake Montz.

These two guys work together daily in Charlie, TX where our pecan orchards are primarily located.  Thanks to them we have the yummy pecans we sell year round in our stores and online!  They know how to grow great pecans and great kids (and of course I am totally biased!

Our family opened the Pecan Shed in 1981.  A few years later we began planting our "Home Orchard" around our house.  Now, almost 40 years later, Dad and Jake are still planting trees in the Charlie, TX area!  Currently, we have over 25,000 trees on  roughly 1,000 acres...with more planned for the future!  

Working in a family agriculture business it is inevitable that some literal and metaphorical storms will blow up from time to time.  Our family has endured tornadoes, freezes, droughts, pest infestation, wild hog invasions, market crashes, and more than one occasion where we didn't see eye to eye on the best way to move forward.  But we weathered them all...and are better for it! 

Tim and Jake have both served as President of the Texas Pecan Growers Association and both have traveled internationally promoting pecans in efforts to open up foreign markets.  These two have served on many other state and national boards and are definitely considered to be leaders in their field.  They have won numerous awards over the years and I am so proud of the work they do not only for our family business but for the pecan industry as a whole. 

Dad is inching his way slowly to retirement (although he is of the generation that will never fully retire...and that is quite okay with us!)  He loves to travel and fish any day he can!  Jake is decades away from retirement!  He and I have lots of plans for the future of this business and we are still young at heart (even if our backs are not what they used to be!)  Jake is the proud dad of three beautiful girls and they keep him on his toes and very busy when he is not on a tractor!

To say I am blessed with the best is an understatement!  These two guys right here might drive me nuts on occasion but when you are in the pecan business it is fairly standard practice.  

From our family to yours we hope you all have a blessed Father's Day Weekend!  

And may the love of our Heavenly Father be with you always!